Pseudochromis fridmani
Spot the vivid violet Orchid Dottyback on Red Sea reefs. Most sightings come from Sharm el Sheikh and Marsa Alam between April and January.
Unmistakable once you know what to look for: a small, elongated fish covered entirely in vivid purple-violet colour with no contrasting markings or bands. It hovers close to the reef face, often near crevices or the entrances to small caves, rarely venturing far from cover. The uniform purple colouration across the whole body, including the fins, sets it apart from anything else on a Red Sea reef.
Orchid dottybacks are shy, darting instantly into reef crevices at the first sign of a diver moving too close. You are most likely to spot one hovering just outside a small cave or overhang, rarely more than a metre or two from its bolt-hole. Slow, patient approach at a distance gives the best view before it retreats.
Like other dottybacks, orchid dottybacks are protogynous hermaphrodites (females can change sex to become males), and males guard the egg mass, curled tightly around it inside a crevice until hatching.
Sightings concentrate from April through to January, suggesting a slight dip in February and March. The species is observed across water temperatures of roughly 22 to 28 degrees Celsius, which covers most of the Red Sea year.
This is almost exclusively a Red Sea species in the dive logs, with Egypt accounting for the overwhelming majority of sightings. Sharm el Sheikh and Marsa Alam are the standout hotspots, with Safaga and Dahab also producing regular encounters. Smaller but consistent numbers are logged from Aqaba in Jordan, Eilat in Israel, and the Farasan Banks in Saudi Arabia.
Mapping where Orchid Dottyback is logged…
Orchid dottybacks are almost entirely a Red Sea fish in recorded dive sightings. Egypt is by far the most reliable destination, especially Sharm el Sheikh and Marsa Alam. Jordan's Aqaba, Israel's Eilat, and Saudi Arabia's Farasan Banks also have logged sightings.
Sightings are concentrated from April through January across the Red Sea. There is a noticeable quieter period in February and March, though it is unclear whether this reflects reduced activity or simply fewer dives logged in those months.
The uniform vivid purple-violet colouration covering the entire body and fins makes this one of the easier small reef fish to name with confidence. It is a slim, elongated fish that stays tight to the reef and ducks into crevices quickly. Nothing else on a Red Sea reef shares quite the same solid purple look.
Orchid dottybacks are small fish, typically reaching around 6 to 7 centimetres in length. Their small size combined with their habit of staying close to the reef wall means they are easy to swim past without noticing.
At most sites where they are logged, orchid dottybacks are rated uncommon or rare by divers. Common sightings are the exception rather than the rule. Slow, careful dives along reef walls and overhangs in Sharm el Sheikh or Marsa Alam give you the best odds.
Site and sighting data is aggregated from diver logs, iNaturalist and GBIF. For taxonomy and conservation status:
Soldierfish
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