Max length : 20.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 48636)
Environment
Reef-associated; non-migratory; marine; depth range 2 - 25 m (Ref. 9710)
Climate / Range
Tropical; 30°N - 30°S
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Line Islands; north to the Ryukyu Islands; south to the Great Barrier Reef; including Micronesia and the Galapagos Islands (Ref. 5227). Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions
Short description
Dorsalspines
(total): 12 - 13;
Dorsalsoft rays
(total): 23 - 25;
Analspines: 3;
Analsoft rays: 18 - 20. Body is whitish or blue-white with curved to oblique black bands on the sides. A yellow edged black bar runs through the eye, another is on the snout.
Occur in coral rich areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs, and feed exclusively on coral polyps (Ref. 9710). Juvenile usually solitary among branching corals, adults usually paired and home-ranging (Ref. 9710, 48636). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Form pairs during breeding (Ref. 205).
