Marine Resources Assessment for the Marianas Operating ... - SPREP

AUGUST 2005 FINAL REPORT
seaward slopes (WPRFMC 2001). Tilefish frequently build mounds under rocks in the sand or
excavate burrows when facing a potential threat (Debelius 2002).
Life History—Few accounts of spawning are known, but it appears that adult pairs of tilefish make a
short spawning ascent to release pelagic, spheroid eggs (Leis and Trnski 1989).
♦ Pseudochromidae (Dottybacks)
Status—Ten dottyback species are managed in Micronesia as part of PHCRT by the WPRFMC
(2001). Five of these species occur in the CNMI and Guam (Amesbury and Myers 2001; Myers and
Donaldson 2003) and have EFH designated within the boundaries of the study area (WPRFMC 2001;
NMFS 2004c). Currently, no data are available to determine if dottybacks of the PHCRT are
approaching an overfished situation (NMFS 2004a). Some species are of commercial importance in
the aquarium fish trade (Gill 1999). None of the species found in the study area are listed on the
IUCN Red List of threatened species (IUCN 2004).
Distribution—Dottybacks are distributed in the tropical Indo-Pacific being represented by two genera
in Micronesian waters (Nelson 1994).
Habitat Preferences—Dottybacks are cryptic diurnal inhabitants of coral reefs and rock bottoms in
shallow intertidal areas of depths of about 100 m (Gill 1999). They commonly utilize numerous small
hiding places such as cracks in rock faces, boulders, small caves or dead corals overgrown by new,
and in mixed algae, sponge, and coral habitats (Debelius 2002). Dottybacks usually occur singly or in
pairs. Some species live in small aggregations of mixed sizes and utilize large caves as a territory
(Debelius 2002).
Life History—The dottybacks are demersal spawners with some species brooding eggs in the mouth
of the male, while others lay adhesive egg masses guarded by the male (WPRFMC 2001; Allen et al.
2003). Hatching typically occurs at night, shortly after sunset (WPRFMC 2001).
♦ Plesiopidae (Prettyfins)
Status—Three species of prettyfins are managed in Micronesia as part of PHCRT by the WPRFMC
(2001). All three species occur in the CNMI and Guam (Amesbury and Myers 2001; Myers and
Donaldson 2003) and have EFH designated within the boundaries of the study area (WPRFMC 2001;
NMFS 2004c). Currently, no data are available to determine if prettyfins of the PHCRT are
approaching an overfished situation (NMFS 2004a). Some species are popular in the aquarium trade
(Mooi 1999). None of the species found in the study area are listed on the IUCN Red List of
threatened species (IUCN 2004).
Distribution—Prettyfins are distributed in the tropical Indo-Pacific (Nelson 1994).
Habitat Preferences—Juvenile and adult prettyfins inhabit outer reef slopes and flats hiding in holes
and crevices at depths ranging from 3 to 45 m (WPRFMC 2001). Most species are secretive by day
but venture out at night to feed (Myers 1999). Prettyfins school in caves or overhangs, are found in
loose aggregations or schools around coral heads, or occur solitary (Mooi 1999).
Life History—Prettyfin reproduction is similar to the closely related dottybacks (WPRFMC 2001).
They produce demersal eggs with hair-like filaments that either entangle with one another to form a
mass or adhere eggs to a hard surface (Mooi 1999). Eggs are guarded by the male in a crevice or
cave and males are known to mouthbrood the eggs (Mooi 1999; Myers 1999).
♦ Caracanthidae (Coral crouchers)
Status—Two coral croucher species are managed in Micronesia as part of PHCRT by the WPRFMC
(2001). Both species occur in the CNMI and Guam (Amesbury and Myers 2001; Myers and
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