Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 20 m (Ref. 559). Subtropical; 30°N - 26°S, 34°E - 60°E
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea and Persian Gulf south to Mozambique, Aldabra and Madagascar.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 17.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 559); max. published weight: 33.13 g (Ref. 124708)
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 9; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 6 - 8. Eyes slightly larger than snout. Preopercular edge serrated, preopercular ridge smooth, weakly denticulate at angle. Brownish or silver grey. 3 darker vertical bands on each side, the first including a black ocellus with yellow or white ring, last band near the base of caudal fin.
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
Inhabits coastal reefs, in shallow silty areas, and in mangroves (Ref. 9710).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Mouthbrooders (Ref. 240). Distinct pairing during courtship and spawning (Ref. 205).
Tortonese, E., 1986. Apogonidae. p. 803-809. In P.J.P. Whitehead, M.-L. Bauchot, J.-C. Hureau, J. Nielsen and E. Tortonese (eds.) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. UNESCO, Paris. vol. 2. (Ref. 4738)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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