Alcock's deep-reef basslet

<em>Plectranthias alcocki</em>, Alcock's Deep-Reef Basslet, is a small saltwater fish belonging to the family Anthiadidae, closely allied with the serranid basslets and anthias. Adults reach approximately 7.2 cm in length, making this a diminutive species well suited to its deep-reef habitat. It has been recorded at depths of 180 to 320 meters, placing it in the mesophotic and upper twilight zone where natural light is greatly reduced. Members of the genus <em>Plectranthias</em> are typically cryptic, solitary fishes associated with rocky or coralline substrates on outer reef slopes and seamounts. They are carnivorous, preying on small crustaceans and invertebrates. Details of habitat and range for this species remain limited in the ichthyological literature. <em>P. alcocki</em> has not been formally evaluated for conservation status. The anthiadid basslets as a group exhibit considerable species diversity in the Indo-Pacific deep-reef environment, and many species in this family remain incompletely described. The species honors Alfred William Alcock, the British naturalist whose deep-sea surveys yielded many new species.