| Family: |
Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes), subfamily: Scorpaeninae |
| Max. size: |
8 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 7 - 40 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Ducie Islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to Rapa; Belau [=Palau] and Marshall Islands in Micronesia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 5-5. Large males with a large black spot at rear of spinous dorsal fin; females and juveniles with no spot or a faint one (Ref. 4313).
Description: Characterized by reddish mottled color with white; presence of black spot posteriorly near margin of spinous dorsal fin in males; adult with posterior lacrimal spine directed anteriorly, ventrally or anteroventrally in juvenile; three spines in suborbital ridge; absence of occipital pit; small or absent tentacle above eye; depth of body 2.6-2.8 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Secretive in reefs during the day and usually seen only at night (Ref. 48635). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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