Halichoeres melas — Details

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Overview

Comprehensive Description

Biology

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Solitary, ranges over a wide area, stopping briefly every 2 to 3 meters to pick food from the reef substrate.
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Distribution

Range Description

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Halichoeres melas is thought to be endemic to Oman, where it has only been encountered at Sawda Island (Kuria Muria Islands) off the coast of southern Oman in the Arabian Sea.
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Western Indian Ocean: Arabian Sea, Oman.
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Physical Description

Size

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Maximum size: 121 mm SL
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Max. size

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12.1 cm SL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 10680))
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Type Information

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Paratype for Halichoeres melas Randall & Earle
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Collector(s): J. Earle
Year Collected: 1993
Locality: Sawda Island, Off Southwest End, Reef, Barrier Net, Oman, Indian
Depth (m): 10 to 10
  • Paratype: Randall, J. E. & Earle, J. L. 1994. Fauna of Saudi Arabia. 14: 296, pl. 8.
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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
Halichoeres melas inhabits coastal coral reef systems (Randall and Earle 1994) at depths of 5–10 m. It is solitary and ranges over a wide area, stopping briefly every 2–3 m to pick food from the reef substrate.

Systems
  • Marine
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Depth: 9 - 10m.
From 9 to 10 meters.

Habitat: demersal. Solitary, ranges over a wide area, stopping briefly every 2 to 3 meters to pick food from the reef substrate.
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Environment

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reef-associated; marine; depth range 9 - 10 m (Ref. 10680)
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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
DD
Data Deficient

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2010

Assessor/s
Allen, G.R., Choat, C.H. & Sadovy, Y.J.

Reviewer/s
Collen, B., Richman, N., Beresford, A., Chenery, A. & Ram, M.

Contributor/s
De Silva, R., Milligan, H., Lutz, M., Batchelor, A., Jopling, B., Kemp, K., Lewis, S., Lintott, P., Sears, J., Wilson, P., Smith, J. & Livingston, F.

Justification
Halichoeres melas has been assessed as Data Deficient as this species is only known from a few collection. The full extent of this species range is unknown and the shallow water nature of this species may make it vulnerable to a range of threats. Further research on the population numbers, ecology, distribution, and potential threat processes of this species is needed before a more accurate assessment of conservation status can be made.
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Population

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Population
Halichoeres melas has been described as having a low population density (Randall and Earle 1994). This species is only known from a small number of records.

Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats
It is not known if this species is being impacted by any major threats.
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Data deficient (DD)
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
There are no species-specific conservation measures in place for Halichoeres melas.

Further research of the population numbers, potential threat processes, distribution, and ecology of this species is needed.
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