The type locality for Nemanthias bartlettorum is Kwajalein Atoll, meaning that Kwaj is where some of the orignally described specimens were collected. In fact, it was named for a couple of fish photographers living on Kwaj, Nathan and Patricia Bartlett, who recognized the species was unusual and not previously known. It is now known that the species is distributed through much of Micronesia and the Line Islands. As in other species of Pseudanthias and related genera, the species shows sexual dimorphism with the males typically larger and more flamboyant than the females. Generally they occur in schools right around the knee of the seaward reef dropoff, with a few males herding around a larger number of females. At Kwajalein, they are most prevalent around the southwestern corner of the atoll, and they have also been seen in large numbers at the northwestern tip of Namu Atoll, about 60km south of Kwajalein.
The specimen below appears to be in the process of changing from male to female. Females are not as brightly colored and typically have rounded snouts. The snout on the one below is more male than female.
Schools usually consist of a few males and a large number of females and juveniles, mixed in with specimens of Nemanthias dispar.
Created 5 June 2010
Updated 4 March 2023