Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 86 m (Ref. 95664). Tropical; 42°N - 40°S, 30°E - 137°W
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to Marquesan and Mangaréva islands, north to southern Japan, south to Queensland, Australia and Kermadec (Ref. 8879) and Austral islands.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 20.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4313)
Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 6. Reddish to tan with many dark bars on body; median fins with scattered dark spots; tentacle above eye long and with dark bands (Ref. 4313). Adults with bluish black blotches near the base of the pectoral fins (Ref. 48635)
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
Occurs in lagoon and seaward reefs. Hides in crevices under rocks and coral formations during the day and hunts at night. Typically with head towards the safety of their hide-out or narrow passage (Ref. 48635). Feeds on shrimps and crabs. Venomous and capable of inflicting a painful sting. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 30874. Solitary or in groups, under ledges and holes (Ref. 37816).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Eschmeyer, W.N., 1986. Scorpaenidae. p. 463-478. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Ref. 4313)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Human uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 24.6 - 29, mean 27.8 °C (based on 900 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5002 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00440 - 0.02274), b=3.02 (2.83 - 3.21), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.61 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
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Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 67.2 [33.6, 147.9] mg/100g; Iron = 0.633 [0.338, 1.691] mg/100g; Protein = 18.1 [16.2, 20.1] %; Omega3 = 0.232 [0.104, 0.617] g/100g; Selenium = 30.9 [16.8, 74.3] μg/100g; VitaminA = 140 [49, 374] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.41 [0.99, 2.00] mg/100g (wet weight);
