Marine Wildlife Encyclopedia Barred Hamlet Hypoplectrus puella
Species ID: S.HP Description: A small, disc-shaped fish with
rounded fins, a sloping forehead and pointed snout. The body is
covered in wide, brown bars against a pale background, and the
snout and eyes are adorned with bright blue lines and spots.
Juveniles are cream coloured with characteristic black and white
blotches at the base of the tail. Scientists believe that the
different types of hamlets that exist are actually a single
species exhibiting identical behaviours. This booklet will focus
on the barred hamlet, which is arguably the most common, but the
information contained here is also applicable to other hamlet
types Maximum Size: 15 cm (6 in) Status: Not currently on the
IUCN endangered species list Barred Hamlets & People: Hamlets
are relatively unimportant in commercial fisheries and the
aquarium trade Geographical Range: Barred hamlets are found
throughout the Caribbean Coral Reef Zone: Hamlets are found at
moderate depths in the back