User:Upike timothymiller

Flasher wrasse or "'Paracheilinus nursalim is a newly discovered fish which that is still completely unknown in the aquarium world. Three species are recognized, one is the P. carpenteri, P. flavianalis and P. mccoskeri, are very similar in appearance and are easily confused with one another.. The males go through an amazing courtship ritual in which "electric" colours are flashed periodically to attract nearby females. The courtship dance takes place every afternoon, beginning about one hour before sundown and continuing until dusk. The modified mouth and lips allow the fish to feed, breathe, and attach to the substrate through suction; Parental care is usually well-developed and the male guards the eggs and sometimes the larvae. The largest can reach a length of 10 centimeters (3.9 in), while the smallest barely can reach 5.1 centimeters (1.9 in).

History
A small Indonesian fish, Paracheilinus nursalim belongs to a genus commonly known as flasher wrasses due to their vivid colouration, which is ‘flashed’ by the males during courtship displays. This colourful fish was first discovered in 2006 during a survey by Conservation International. Described in 2008, both Paracheilinus nursalimwas discovered on the biological expedition to the Bird’s Head Peninsula of Western New Guinea, not to be confused with the eastern Papua New Guinea where we previously were getting some cool clownfish and damselfish. The male Paracheilinus nursalim is usually dull reddish overall, fading to yellow on the belly and with a dusky grey area on the top of the back. There is also a black rectangular patch on the underside of the body, just before the tail. Each side of the male’s body has five narrow, red-brown stripes running along it, while a blue to purplish stripe runs below the eye, from the lip to the lower part of the operculum. The eyes of Paracheilinus nursalim are yellow.


 * Kingdom	Animalia


 * Phylum	Chordata
 * Class	Actinopterygii
 * Order	Perciformes
 * Family	Labridae
 * Genus	Paracheilinus

Habitat
An inhabitant of coral reefs, Paracheilinus nursalim is found in partly sheltered areas that are periodically exposed to strong currents, and is associated with gradual rubble slopes. Paracheilinus nursalim has been found at depths of 5 to 50 metres, but is most common between 20 and 35 metres. However, large aggregations have sometimes been found at depths of 6 to 10 metres in Triton Bay.[1] To learn more go to Safe and Sound cover by A-Kel.

Feeding Behavior
Flasher wrasse need very small food. In the wild they feed on plankton. Flasher wrasse also can eat daphnia and brine shrimp. They eat just like omnivorous species do. Also Flasher Wrasse need to eat 3-4 times a day to survive.

Behavior
Paracheilinus nursalim species has prominent canine teeth in the front of its mouth, but it may resemble other Paracheilinus species in feeding predominantly on zooplankton. In general, wrasses are active during the day, taking shelter in crevices in the reef or burrowing into the sediment at night. Large aggregations of Paracheilinus nursalim have sometimes been encountered, numbering around 30 males and several hundred females. As in other wrasses, the males of this species may dominate a group of females. The males of Paracheilinus nursalim perform a dramatic courtship ritual in which neon-like courtship colours are repeatedly ‘flashed’ to attract females. This bright display is further enhanced by bouts of rapid swimming, interspersed with stationary periods during which the male erects the dorsal and anal fins. The male’s flashy courtship display is most commonly performed about an hour before sunset, and continues until dusk. Other details of the breeding behaviour of Paracheilinus nursalim are that the male is reported to guard the eggs and sometimes also the newly hatched juveniles. As in most wrasses, it is likely that the female Paracheilinus nursalim undergoes a remarkable change as it grows, starting life as a female and developing into a male once it reaches a certain size.

Conservation
There are currently no conservation measures specifically in place to conserve Paracheilinus nursalim. However, it occurs in several Marine Protected Areas across its range, which may offer it some protection. Paracheilinus nursalim was initially discovered during a marine survey by Conservation International. The surveys performed by this organisation around the Bird’s Head Peninsula have led to the discovery of many new species and shown the area to be a global priority for marine conservation. New Marine Protected Areas have been created as a direct result of this work, and the survey results have been used to inform management plans and government policies in the region. In addition, worldwide publicity surrounding the new species discoveries has increased awareness and local pride in the region’s marine environment. It has also helped to expand marine tourism and in turn raise funds for local people. The publicity was also a key factor in the success of the ‘Blue Auction’, an event which raised vital funds by auctioning off the rights to name ten of the new fish species discovered by Conservation International’s surveys.