Lyretail anthias

Lore & Background

The midas blenny (Ecsenius midas) goes through a phase of yellow colouration and is a social mimic of this species. Its range spans the western Indian Ocean including the Red Sea, and the Pacific Ocean as far east as Japan, the Great Barrier Reef, and southeast Australia. It is absent from the Persian Gulf, Hawaii, and Oman. The fish lives around coral outcrops in clear lagoons, patch reefs, and steep slopes to a depth of 35 m, often in the company of Chromis dimidiata, and is frequently found in very large schools above the reef. The sea goldie feeds primarily on zooplankton. Like other anthias, it is a protogynous hermaphrodite: a male retains a harem of five to ten females. When the male dies or leaves, the largest and most dominant female undergoes hormonal and physical changes to become the new male, a process that can take several weeks to months. Spawning occurs at sunset, between December and February in the Red Sea.

Reader's Guide

The lyretail anthias is a protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning individuals begin life as females and can later transition to male. A dominant male maintains a harem of five to ten females; if he dies or departs, the largest female undergoes a hormonal and physical transformation to become the new male, a process lasting weeks to months. Spawning occurs at sunset, with a seasonal peak from December to February in the Red Sea. The species feeds primarily on zooplankton, which it captures in the water column. In the reef ecosystem, it forms very large schools above coral outcrops, often associating with Chromis dimidiata. Its wide Indo-Pacific distribution includes the Red Sea, Japan, the Great Barrier Reef, and southeast Australia, though it is absent from the Persian Gulf, Hawaii, and Oman. The sea goldie is found in the aquarium trade, where its striking dimorphism—females orange/gold with a violet eye streak, males fuchsia with elongated fins—makes it a popular species. Notably, the midas blenny mimics its yellow colouration, a social mimicry strategy.

Did You Know?

• The sea goldie is a protogynous hermaphrodite; the largest female can become male if the dominant male dies or leaves.
• The midas blenny is a social mimic of the sea goldie during its yellow colouration phase.