Found in brackish water, tide pools, over sand, and near rocks and reef in estuaries, back-reefs, or areas of strong surge (Ref. 58302). Inshore species, often seen in schools (Ref. 41640). Adults nocturnal (Ref. 41640).

Eastern Central Pacific: endemic to Hawaii.

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 10 - 11

22.2 cm SL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 41640))

Preorbital serrae 11-18; body depth 2.3-2.7 in SL; dorsal profile of head of adults slightly concave; eye large, 2.6-2.95 in head length; second anal spine 86-98% length of third spine; pelvic spine 2.2-2.5 in head length; caudal concavity 1.8-2.0 in head length. Silvery, caudal fin dusky to dark gray with a narrow black posterior margin and often a pale band (Ref. 41640).

Lectotype; Syntype for Kuhlia xenura
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Preparation: Radiograph
Collector(s): W. Stimpson
Locality: Hawaii, United States, Hawaiian Islands, Pacific

Paralectotype; Syntype for Kuhlia xenura
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Collector(s): W. Stimpson
Locality: Hawaii, United States, Hawaiian Islands, Pacific

Depth range based on 1 specimen in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 1 sample.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 10.7 - 10.7
  Temperature range (°C): 23.617 - 23.617
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.119 - 0.119
  Salinity (PPS): 35.225 - 35.225
  Oxygen (ml/l): 4.895 - 4.895
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.075 - 0.075
  Silicate (umol/l): 1.989 - 1.989
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 22 m (Ref. 58302), usually 1 - 5 m (Ref. 58302)

Found in freshwater, brackish and shallow water along the seashores. Those from freshwater feed mostly on algae, insects, planktonic crustaceans and foraminifera, and those from brackish or saltwater eat crustaceans (mainly copepods and amphipods), insects, mollusk larvae, algae, spiders and annelids. Fish of 75-150 mm TL, found in deeper water at the base of exposed cliffs, large tide pools or in rivers or ponds, eat mainly crustacean larvae, especially larger stages of crabs and stomatopods, but small quantities of insects and algae. Large fish >150 mm TL from surf-pounded cliffs, and other exposed localities feed mainly on crustaceans, (mostly crab larvae but also stomatopod larvae and amphipods) and polychaete worms. Adults mainly nocturnal.

Not Evaluated