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). More on author: Cuvier.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 80 m (Ref. 30874), usually 3 - 60 m (Ref. 30874). Tropical; 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. 123251)
CITES (Ref. 118484)
Not Evaluated
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
115969): 24.3 - 29, mean 27.8 °C (based on 1518 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5078 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01023 (0.00454 - 0.02306), b=3.01 (2.82 - 3.20), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 4.0 ±0.66 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (46 of 100) .
