Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 150 m (Ref. 9824). Tropical; 32°N - 32°S, 26°E - 138°W
Indo-Pacific: throughout the Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf to Hawaiian, Marquesas, and Society islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. Record from the eastern Mediterranean incorrect (Ref. 9824).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 39.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710); common length : 20.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3322)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 84 - 97; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 61 - 73. Eyed side with dark spots, blotches and rings on body and median fins; 1 distinct dark blotch on middle of straight section of lateral line; narrow dark crossbars on eyed side of pectorals (Ref. 4417). Pectoral rays 9-12 (eyed side) and 9-11 (blind side).
Inhabits sandy or silty sand, and muddy bottoms of inner reef flats and seaward reefs; juveniles frequently found in tide pools (Ref. 9824, 48637). Benthic (Ref. 58302). Feeds on benthic animals (Ref. 5213). Utilized as a food fish (Ref. 4537) and processed into fish meal (Ref. 9824).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hensley, D.A., 1986. Bothidae. p. 854-863. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Ref. 4417)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 18.6 - 28.3, mean 25.1 °C (based on 608 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00891 (0.00474 - 0.01676), b=3.11 (2.95 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.37 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Prior r = 0.25, 95% CL = 0.17 - 0.38, Based on 1 data-limited stock assessment.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (29 of 100).
Climate Vulnerability (Ref.
125649): Moderate vulnerability (44 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 40 [16, 81] mg/100g; Iron = 0.462 [0.219, 0.857] mg/100g; Protein = 18.1 [16.6, 19.6] %; Omega3 = 0.0809 [, ] g/100g; Selenium = 41.3 [21.5, 84.8] μg/100g; VitaminA = 63.4 [16.2, 259.7] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.993 [0.659, 1.434] mg/100g (wet weight);
