PTERELEOTRIDAE Nemateleotris decora (photo by Mark Strickland) Nemateleotris decora Randall and Allen, 1973 Elegant Firefish D VI + I, 27-32; A I, 28-31; P1 20-21; LR 135-160; PDS 0. Body elongate, compressed. Head slightly compressed; jaws subequal; gill opening rather wide, extending anteriorly to a vertical line through posterior margin of preopercle. Anterior three spines of first dorsal fin elongate, distinctly longer than posterior spines; pelvic fins separated; caudal fin slightly emarginate. Scales on body small cycloid anteriorly, ctenoid posteriorly; head naked. Sensory canals and pores present on head; reduced transverse pattern of sensory-papillae rows on cheek. Color: ground color of head and anterior part of body pale, gradually shading to deep purple posteriorly; first dorsal fin dark red and purple, with narrow yellowish basal area; second dorsal in dark red (tinged with purple), with narrow purple distal margin; anal fin dull yellow, with a broad longitudinal dark-red midstripe edged by purple lines dorsoventrally; caudal fin deep purple medially, reddish dorsoventrally; pelvic fin pale basally, red and deep purple distally. Size: 6.0 cm SL. Distribution: Indo-Pacific. Remarks: found in relatively deep coral reefs (commonly 35-55m depths); hovering a short distance above sandy bottoms with rubbles.