Dorsalspines
(total): 9;
Dorsalsoft rays
(total): 12-13;
Analspines: 3;
Analsoft rays: 12;
Vertebrae: 25. Anterior head and body color of adults in life bluish gray, shading posteriorly to yellowish; scales often with orange-yellow vertical lines; a dark spot posterior to dorsal half of eye; dorsal fin with a large black spot edged with blue. Anterior lateral line scales with 1-3 pores; 9-11 suborbital pores. Anterior dorsal and anal soft rays longer than posterior rays; pelvic fins of males and large females very long, reaching posterior to anus, often to or beyond origin of anal fin. Juveniles with 4 black stripes on head and body.
Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs, in coral-rich areas (Ref. 9710). Also found along drop-offs on the bottom of large caves. Usually seen solitary (Ref. 48636).
Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 p. (Ref. 2334)
Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 25.4 - 28.9, mean 27.7 °C (based on 332 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00464 - 0.02154), b=3.08 (2.91 - 3.25), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.5 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref. 120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (27 of 100) .
