Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and flatheads) >
Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes) > Pteroinae
Etymology: Dendrochirus: Greek, dendron = tree + Greek, cheir = hands; with tree like marks (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 80 m (Ref. 30874), usually ? - 60 m (Ref. 37816). Tropical, preferred ?; 30°N - 30°S, 32°E - 163°W
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.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 25.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1602)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 13;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 10-11;
Anal
spines: 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).
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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Spawn in pairs. Courtship and spawning occur at night. Males aggressive, females are smaller and develop almost white face when in courtship. Spawning occurs at the apex of a short and rapid paired ascent resulting in a gelatinous mass of 2,000 to 15,000 eggs. Hatching occurs 36 hours later and larvae settle out in a few weeks at a size of 10-12 mm.
Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. (Ref. 1602)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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