Pseudolabrus celidotus — Choat 
453 
FEMALES 
MALES » 
FIG. 3. General sequence of colour transition in males and females of P. celidotus. The lengths given must 
be regarded as being approximate only. It is inferred that sexual transition occurs in the upper limits of the 
20-140 mm size range. 1C demonstrates the gradual development of the B colour pattern by females above 
240 mm T.L. 2 A shows the development of the B colour pattern at the expense of the A pattern in males be- 
tween 140-180 mm T.L. 
after death. The sides of the abdomen often 
with a pronounced reddish orange tint. Ante- 
rior and posterior orbital bars, black lateral 
blotch, anal fin spots, and the black transverse 
bars on body are lacking. A brilliant blue bro- 
ken or unbroken line runs from the corner of 
the mouth to the lower anterior rim of the eye. 
This line may extend beneath the eye and across 
the upper series of cheek scales. A blue line 
extends horizontally from the lateral lobe of the 
lower lip to the vertical limb of the preopercu- 
lum. Both these lines may be reduced to a linear 
series of dots. Operculum with a scattering of 
bright blue dots. The dorsum with a series of 
black dots just above the lateral line, extending 
from the region just below the sixth dorsal spine 
to the second dorsal ray. These may tend to 
become slightly coalesced, and in larger speci- 
mens may extend some distance below the lat- 
eral line, giving the impression of an indistinct 
dusky transverse band. 
The dorsal fin lacks the groups of dark spots 
seen in the A phase and is usually a pale yellow- 
ish green with a faint orange median longitudi- 
nal stripe. Anal fin lacking the two prominent 
dark spots but displaying a median longitudinal 
yellowish stripe on a pale whitish green back- 
ground. The ventrals are usually pale yellow. 
Transitional Stages Between the 
Tivo Colour Patterns ( Fig. 3 ) 
On examination of a series of specimens 
ranging from 140 to 180 mm T.L., it was 
found that some exhibited colour patterns that 
were intermediate between the two phases. 
These comprised, in the main, specimens show- 
ing a definite B colour pattern but still retain- 
ing vestiges of the A pattern. The most common 
manifestation of this consisted of the dark lat- 
eral blotch being very faintly represented, with 
the cluster of black dots characteristic of the 
B phase strongly superimposed on it. In these 
specimens the suborbital and opercular blue 
linear markings were only faintly developed, 
and traces of the dark postorbital bars could 
still be detected. Transitional specimens invari- 
ably lacked the dark spots on the anal fin, dis- 
playing instead the longitudinal stripe of the 
B phase. 
One specimen showing transitional charac- 
teristics was considerably larger ( 240 mm T.L. ) 
than any others. This appeared to have a nor- 
