| Family: |
Samaridae (Crested flounders) |
| Max. size: |
10 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 30 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Hawaiian and Society islands. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 64-70; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 51-47; Vertebrae: 40-41. Body mottled brown with irregular dark and pale markings; 2-3 dark-edged ocelli along lateral line pectorals blackish distally; dorsal and anal fins with minute black dots; caudal fin with black spots (Ref. 6270). Gill rakers rudimentary (Ref. 1602).
Description: Characterized further by having well developed pectoral fin on eyed side with 5 rays, single rudimentary ray on blind side; depth of body 2.4-3.1 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits coral heads of lagoon and seaward reefs; common in shallow caves or under ledges and can lie flat against vertical rock surfaces (Ref. 1602, 48637). Found in rubble slopes in sand or fine-rubble patches (Ref. 9792). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Comes out at dusk and hunts on low reef. It has low profile and crawls along like a flatworm, but activity waves its black pectoral fin as it goes (Ref. 48637). Feeds on small benthic animals (Ref. 9792). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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