Description: Body bicolored, purple to violet in front, bright orange-yellow behind (G. loreto). Dorsal fin with a dark spot and several streaks on the head, running across the eye. Size up to 8 cm.
Habitat: Often found in caves or under ledges, down to 60 m. Swim with the belly towards the substrate, thus under ledges upside down. Feed on ectoparasites of other fish. Retreat into recesses when alarmed.
Distribution: Not reported Florida, abundant Bahamas and Caribbean.
Remarks: The related Heliotrope basslet (Gramma klayi) lacks the dark spot on the dorsal fin.
Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Superclass Pisces Class Osteichthyes Family Grammatidae Genus Gramma Species Gramma loreto
Fairy basslet [English] Royal gramma [English] Royal gramma [Papiamentu]
Humann, P., 1989. Reef Fish Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas, (ed. N. Deloach). New World Publications, Inc., Paramount Miller Graphics, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida.
Nagelkerken, W., 1980. Coral Reef Fishes of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. Published by the Island Territory of Curacao.
Images
G. loreto (De kluijver and Gijswijt)
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