| Family: |
Aplodactylidae (Marblefishes) |
| Max. size: |
65 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 40 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: southern Australia and New Zealand. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 16-19; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-18; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 6-8; Vertebrae: 34-34. This species is characterized by the following: small mouth, somewhat ventral on head; fleshy lips, upper lip projecting, maxilla reaching a vertical through posterior nostril; small teeth, mainly tricuspid, a few lanceolate, in 3-4 rows in jaws, with outermost row largest; vomerine teeth in small patch; nostrils 2 pairs, anterior pair with fleshy tentaculate flaps on anteroventral margin and posteroventral margin; opercle with broad flat spine, does not extend to the fleshy margin; scales are small, cycloid, embedded, extending on to cheeks and opercles, and forming a sheath along base of spinous dorsal fin (Ref. 86913). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits weedy reef slopes (Ref. 9002). Feeds on algae (mainly red, Ref. 86913), and the small invertebrates living amongst it. A poor food fish with its flesh described as coarse with a rank flavor (Ref. 86913). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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