Key Identification Features
- Mature adults are identified by size, and there is no color difference between males and females.
- Exact coloration varies by region, with particularly distinct differences in populations from the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, and South Pacific Ocean.
- It features a vertically elongated black spot and four or five vertical bars on its sides, plus alternating short purple-blue and black bands on the posterior sections of its dorsal and anal fins.
- On the forehead sits a distinctive cobalt blue, eye-like spot or "crown" outlined with an electric blue outer ring and dotted with electric blue spots.
For instant identification in the field, use the iNature app — AI-powered, works offline.
