Assiculus

Assiculus is a genus of fish in the "dottyback" family Pseudochromidae. It is monotypic, containing only Assiculus punctatus.^[2] It is a small species of dottyback which is covered in small, bright blue spots. The males are bluish in colour while the females are greenish-yellow and are smaller than the males.^[3] A. punctatus is found in coastal areas in the vicinity of reefs and weedy areas; normally in rather turbid waters as deep as 30 metres (98 ft). This secretive species frequents areas where there are highly eroded limestone reefs and rocks.^[4]

Assiculus
Assiculus punctatus from John Lort Stokes' 1846 Discoveries in Australia
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Blenniiformes
Family:	Pseudochromidae
Subfamily:	Pseudochrominae
Genus:	Assiculus Richardson, 1846
Species:	A. punctatus
Binomial name
Assiculus punctatus Richardson, 1846[1]

The genus and species were first published by Sir John Richardson in an appendix to Volume 1 of John Lort Stokes' 1846 Discoveries in Australia.^[5] The specific name punctatus references the small blue spots on the dorsal part of the body and fins.^[6]