| Family: |
Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes), subfamily: Pteroinae |
| Max. size: |
25 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 115 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands, south to Australia and Lord Howe Island. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 6-7. Body reddish with 5 dark bars, alternating with thin dark bars in large specimens; median fins with small dark spots; dark spot on cheek (Ref. 4313). Mid-dorsal spines longer than body depth (Ref. 37816).
Description: Characterized by presence of dark band passing through eye; alternating light and dark bands on dorsal spines; deeply incised membranes of spinous portion of dorsal fin; longest dorsal spine equal to or greater than body depth; enlarged and wing-like pectoral fins with rays fully connected by membranes except deeply incised between lower 7-8 unbranched rays; above each eye with slender tentacle; depth of body about 2.7 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Found on coral, rubble, or rock bottoms of reef flats (Ref. 9710); also in coastal to outer reef habitats in sheltered lagoons and in caves, sometimes in small aggregations. Usually shallow, from 3-60m (Ref. 30874) but also reported to 80 m depth. Pelagic stages travel great distances and expatriate to sub-tropical zones (Ref. 48635). Spawned in captivity (Ref. 37816). Spines with poison glands (Ref. 125576). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
venomous |
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