Author: (Brünnich, 1768)
FBname: Pearl fish
Comments: Common species (Ref. 34024).  Adults typically live as commensals in the gut of shallow-water holothurians, <i>Holothuria tubulosa</i> and <i>Stichopus regalis</i> (although some deep-water records exist, see Ref. 6347).  Prejuveniles (tenuis larvae) probably inhabit the same host species while the vexillifer and egg-rafts are planktonic.  The fish may partly protrude or entirely leave its host at night to feed on small fish and benthic invertebrates.  Reproduction noted in July-September.  (Ref. 4741).