Bugeye dottyback (Amsichthys knighti)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
The bugeye dottyback (Amsichthys knighti), also known as Knight's dottyback, is a species of ray-finned fish, the only species in the monospecific genus Amsichthys, belonging to the subfamily Pseudoplesiopinae, of the family Pseudochromidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Scientific name
- Amsichthys knighti
- Authority
- (Allen, 1987)
- Family
- Pseudochromidae
- Order
- Ovalentaria incertae sedis
- Maximum length
- 4.5 cm
- Depth range
- 10–30 m
- Habitat zone
- reef-associated
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
- Gbif occurrence records
- 234
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Ovalentaria incertae sedis · Family: Pseudochromidae · Genus: Amsichthys.
Accepted name: Amsichthys knighti · Authority: (Allen, 1987) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 712619.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Pseudoplesiops knighti Allen, 1987.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=712619 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Amsichthys knighti. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 4.5 cm · Depth range: 10–30 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: of no interest · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
FishBase notes: Found in coastal reef slopes amongst algae boulder habitat to about 20 m depth (Ref. 48635); also inhabits inshore reefs (Ref. 7300). Cryptic and seen with the use of collecting chemicals (Ref 90102).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 14271) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Amsichthys-knighti.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
234 georeferenced occurrence records for Amsichthys knighti are published through GBIF from 14 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 82 distinct locations from a sample of 234 records, omitting 6 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: Australia (63); Papua New Guinea (39); Indonesia (38); Philippines (31); Japan (25); Palau (11); Solomon Islands (9); Wallis and Futuna (7); Thailand (4); Brunei Darussalam (2); Timor-Leste (2); Malaysia (1); New Caledonia (1); Chinese Taipei (1).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 4284545) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=4284545&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=712619 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
The IUCN Red List assesses Amsichthys knighti (Allen, 1987) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.
Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 69583335) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/69583335/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 4284545) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/4284545/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
The bugeye dottyback is a small, rarely seen species of dottyback which varies in colour from a uniform yellow through to brown. It has a pinkish snout and brown individuals have a yellow caudal fin. It goes to a maximum total length of 4.5 cm in males.
The bugeye dottyback is found in the Indo-Pacific region from western Thailand east through the Malay Archipelago to the Solomon Islands and Wallis Island, south to northern Australia and north to southern Japan. In Australia it is distributed from Scott Reef in Western Australia to the Capricorn Islands in Queensland.
The bugeye dottyback occurs in coastal reef slopes where it inhabits areas of algal growth among boulders down to depths of 20 m and it is also found in inshore reefs. It is a secretive and shy species which is most often recorded when piscicides are used to collect specimens.
The genus name compounds the initials of the Australian Museum, Sydney, the "AMS" with the greek word for "fish@, ichthys, Amsichthys. The specific name honours Ronald Knight, Sr. of Manus, Papua New Guinea, who provided hospitality to Gerald R. Allen when he was on a collecting trip in 1982. The location the type specimen was collected was the Ribbon Reef, part of the Great Barrier Reef.
Source: Wikipedia: Bugeye dottyback — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugeye_dottyback (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bugeye dottyback (Amsichthys knighti)?
It is a small ray-finned fish and the sole representative of the genus Amsichthys, placing it in the dottyback family Pseudochromidae. It is also commonly called Knight's dottyback and was formally described by Allen in 1987.
Where does the Bugeye dottyback live in the wild?
This species is native to the Indo-Pacific region and is typically encountered at depths ranging from 10 to 30 meters below the surface.
How big does the Bugeye dottyback get?
The maximum recorded length is just 4.5 cm, making it a very small reef-associated fish.
What is special about the Bugeye dottyback's taxonomy?
It is the only species in its genus, Amsichthys, making the genus monospecific. It sits within the subfamily Pseudoplesiopinae of Pseudochromidae, and its order placement is listed as Ovalentaria incertae sedis, reflecting some ongoing uncertainty in higher-level classification.
Who originally described the Bugeye dottyback?
The species was first formally described by Allen in 1987, which is the authority citation used in taxonomic databases such as WoRMS.
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