| Family: |
Malacanthidae (Tilefishes) |
| Max. size: |
16 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 25 - 115 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Maldives and Mauritius to the Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 3-5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 29-34; Anal spines: 1-2; Anal soft rays: 19-20; Vertebrae: 24-24. Preopercular serrae 30-58. H. cuniculus is variable in coloration, ranging from pale olive brown to yellowish or light greenish or a mixture with some geographic variation (Ref. 37816). Greatest depth of body 5.1-6.3 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits muddy to rubble or rubble-sand areas of outer reef slopes. Observed a meter above the substrate and retreats to a burrow when threatened. Stomach contents consist of calanoid copepods (58% by volume), larvaceans (20%), siphonophores (20%), and fish eggs (2%) (Ref. 8991). Sometimes in loose groups (Ref. 48635). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 August 2023 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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