Anthias anthias

This fish lives in the sea. It can be pink or red. It has yellow lines on its head. Some have brown spots on their back.

These fish hide in rocks and caves. They come out at night to eat. They eat tiny sea life and small fish.

All these fish start as girls. If a boy dies, a large girl changes. She becomes a boy.

This change takes two weeks. The fish also changes color and size. It is a very special fish.

The sea perch is a bright fish. Its colors range from pink to red. It has three yellow lines on its head. Some fish show brown spots on their backs. This fish lives in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It likes to live near reefs, rocks, and corals. Many hide in caves during the day. They come out at night to eat. They eat small fish and tiny sea life.

These fish have a very special way of living. They are protogynous hermaphrodites. This means they can change sex. All fish start their lives as females. If a male dies, a large female changes. She becomes a male. This change takes about two weeks. The fish also changes its size and color.

Most fish in a group stay female. Even a large school has only a few males. If there are too many males, some can change back. They can become females again. These fish also work together. Some fish herd prey while others eat. Then they switch roles.

The swallowtail sea perch is a bright fish. It is also called the marine goldfish. This fish lives in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It loves to stay near reefs, rocks, and corals. Many fish hide in caves during the day. They come out at night to eat. They hunt for zooplankton and small shrimp. They also eat tiny fishes.

These fish have a very special way of life. They are protogynous hermaphrodites. This means they can change their sex. All of these fish hatch as females. If a male dies, a large female takes his place. She changes into a male. This whole change takes about two weeks. Her body changes in size and shape. Her color changes too.

Most fish in a group stay female. A large school might only have a few males. Sometimes, these fish work together to eat. Some fish will herd the prey. Other fish will eat the shrimp. Then, they switch their roles. This helps everyone in the group eat.

Scientists first named this fish in 1758. A man named Carolus Linnaeus described it. He called it Labrus anthius. He said it lived in southern Europe. Later, Marcus Elieser Bloch created the genus Anthias. The name Anthias comes from a Greek word for fish.

These fish have many unique features. Their bodies are deep and colorful. They can be pink or red. They have three yellow lines on their heads. Their pelvic fins are yellow. However, the males turn red when they breed. Their tail fin has two pointed parts. The bottom part is longer than the top.

The swallowtail sea perch is a fascinating marine fish. Scientists call this species *Anthias anthias*. It belongs to the family Anthiadidae. These ray-finned fish are well known for their vibrant colors. They play an important role in reef ecosystems. Many people also find them in the marine aquarium trade. They are found in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

The physical body of *Anthias anthias* has several distinct features. It has a rather deep body shape. The standard length is about 2.5 times its depth. The dorsal fin contains 10 spines and 15 soft rays. The third spine on this fin is especially long. The anal fin has three spines and seven soft rays. The caudal fin, or tail fin, has asymmetrical, pointed lobes. The lower lobe is longer than the upper lobe.

Coloration is another way to identify this species. Their colors range from pink to deep red. They possess three yellow lines on the sides of their heads. Sometimes, they show brown blotches along their backs. Their pelvic fins are usually yellow. However, these fins turn red when the males are breeding. They also have a complete lateral line. This line contains 36 to 39 large scales.

These fish follow a unique biological process called protogynous hermaphroditism. This means they can change their sex during their lifetime. Every individual hatches as a female. If a male in a group dies, a large female changes. She becomes a new male to lead the group. This transformation takes about two weeks to complete. The change involves more than just the gonads. The fish also changes in size, shape, and color.

Social structures within a school are very specific. Most members of a group remain female throughout their lives. Even a large school might only contain a few males. Interestingly, this sex change can sometimes go in reverse. If there are too many males in a social group, some can revert. They change from males back into females. This helps the group maintain a healthy balance.

*Anthias anthias* has a complex history in scientific study. Carolus Linnaeus first formally described the species in 1758. He named it *Labrus anthius* in the tenth edition of *Systema Naturae*. He identified southern Europe as the type locality. Later, Marcus Elieser Bloch created the genus *Anthias*. He used *Anthias sacer* as the type species for that genus. However, that name is now considered a synonym of Linnaeus's original name. The name *Anthias* comes from a Greek word for fish.

Their habitat and feeding habits are also very interesting. They live at depths ranging from 5 to 60 meters. They prefer to live among rocks and corals. During the day, they hide inside caves for safety. At night, they emerge to hunt for food. They eat zooplankton, small crustacea, and smaller fishes. They have even been observed to feed cooperatively. Some fish will herd the prey, like shrimp. Other fish then eat the prey. They switch roles so that everyone can eat.

The distribution of this species is quite widespread. In the eastern Atlantic, they live from Portugal south to Angola. They also reach northern Namibia. They are found around the Azores and Madeira. They also live in the Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands. They inhabit the islands in the Gulf of Guinea. In the Mediterranean, they are very common. They have been recorded in the Canakkale Strait. However, they have not been found in the Black Sea.