| Family: |
Monocentridae (Pinecone fishes) |
| Max. size: |
17 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 300 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Reunion, Madagascar, and South Africa; north to Japan, Taiwan, China, New Caledonia (including Chesterfield Islands), south to Australia; |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 5-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal soft rays: 9-11; Vertebrae: 25-26. The species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: lateral-line scales 13 - 17; scale rows below lateral line 11-14, modally 11-12; three scale rows below lateral line 8; total gill rakers 16-20; small scales between fourth scale row below lateral line and abdominal scutes, its posterior tip not reaching second postpelvic scute; no teeth on vomer; mouth large, reaching vertical through posterior margin of eye (Ref. 127470). |
| Biology: |
Found in the sublittoral zone (Ref. 11230), under ledges and caves of rocky reefs (Ref. 9710). Forms schools (Ref. 6620). Adults are found between 20 and 200 m depth, juveniles occasionally in shallower water (Ref. 9650). Regularly displayed in public aquaria. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 December 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
