Gramma melacara

Black Cap Basslet, Underwater near Roatan, Honduras.

The Black Cap Basslet ( Gramma melacara ) is a small marine fish that occurs in the Caribbean and is widely used there. The species was previously on the coast of the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and Grand Cayman, as well as on the west coast of Central America (Belize, Honduras ) and the northern coast of South America (Colombia ). It is probably even more widespread.

Features

The Black Cap Basslet reaches a maximum length of 8 cm. From occurring in the same habitat of two colored, violet front and rear yellow-colored king - Basslet ( Gramma loreto ), the Black Caps Basslet differs mainly by its almost the entire body comprehensive, violet staining. Only on the top of the head is a black zone, which extends from the tip of the snout through the eye to the anterior half of the dorsal fin. The caudal fin is the Black Cap Basslet crescent- shaped with pointed top and bottom praise. The pelvic fins are much shorter than the king - Basslet rich and straight to the beginning of the anal fin.

• Fins formula: dorsal fin XIII- (XIV ) / ( 8 ) -9, anal fin III/10, pectoral 16-18.

Habitat

The Black Cap Basslet comes sympatric ago with the king - Basslet. But while the former preferred shallow water, the Black Caps Basslet separates it from the depths below 30 m and comes to depths of 180 m before. He lives hidden in crevices and caves on steep Außenriffkanten. If the Black Caps Basslet as being closer to the cave roof to cave floor, he often swims belly- up. The substrate- brooding species was retightened already in the aquarium.