Lives in subtidal reef flats, also in lagoon and seaward reefs below the surge zone to depths of at least 26 m. Often occurs in large aggregations during the day in areas of rich foliaceous or cavernous coral growth (Ref. 30573). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feeds on plankton such as crab larvae. Caught at night (Ref. 30573).

Indo-Pacific: East Africa south to Natal, South Africa (except Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Persian Gulf, Indian coast) and east to French Polynesia and the Hawaiian Islands; north to Tosa Bay, Shikoku (Japan), south to the Great Barrier Reef and Lord Howe Island.

Chagos, Comores, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa (country)

Indo-West Pacific: Madagascar, Comores, Seychelles and Mascarenes east to Hawaiian Islands and Marquesas Islands, north to southern Japan and Ogasawara Islands, south to Western Australia, New Caledonia, Lord Howe Island, and Tonga.

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Analspines: 4; Analsoft rays: 14 - 16

Maximum size: 200 mm TL

26.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 48635))

Body red dorsally, silvery pink below LL; reddish brown bar from upper end of gill opening to base of pectoral fins; fins red except for spinous dorsal which is translucent red basally and broadly yellow distally (Ref. 4201). Has smaller scales than most other similar species and the higher number along the body is quite obvious (Ref. 48635).

Lives in subtidal reef flats, also in lagoon and seaward reefs below the surge zone to depths of at least 26 m. Often occurs in large aggregations during the day in areas of rich foliaceous or cavernous coral growth. Feeds on plankton such as crab larvae.

reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 55 m (Ref. 12419)

Depth range based on 129 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 90 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 1 - 100
  Temperature range (°C): 22.496 - 29.336
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.019 - 2.380
  Salinity (PPS): 33.568 - 36.142
  Oxygen (ml/l): 4.230 - 5.079
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.088 - 0.308
  Silicate (umol/l): 0.506 - 4.989

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 1 - 100

Temperature range (°C): 22.496 - 29.336

Nitrate (umol/L): 0.019 - 2.380

Salinity (PPS): 33.568 - 36.142

Oxygen (ml/l): 4.230 - 5.079

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.088 - 0.308

Silicate (umol/l): 0.506 - 4.989
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Depth: 2 - 55m.
From 2 to 55 meters.

Habitat: reef-associated. Lives in subtidal reef flats, also in lagoon and seaward reefs below the surge zone to depths of at least 26 m. Often occurs in large aggregations during the day in areas of rich foliaceous or cavernous coral growth. Feeds on plankton such as crab larvae.

Inhabits coral reefs (Ref. 58534). Is a nocturnal planktivore that takes mostly crab megalops and other crustaceans (Ref. 13550).

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.


There are 3 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.


Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 3
Specimens with Barcodes: 22
Species With Barcodes: 1

Not Evaluated

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family