Teleostei (teleosts) >
Perciformes/Scorpaenoidei (Scorpionfishes) >
Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes) > Pteroinae
Etymology: Dendrochirus: Greek, dendron = tree + Greek, cheir = hands; with tree like marks (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Fowler.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 40 m (Ref. 9710). Tropical; 32°N - 18°S
Indo-Pacific: Mauritius, Reunion, Maldives and Sri Lanka (Ref. 33390) to the Society Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Scott Reef.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 13.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 48635)
Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5. Eye-like spots in the soft dorsal fin and feeler-like tentacles in front of the mouth (Ref. 48635). Mid-dorsal spines shorter than body depth. The only species of Dendrochirus with a pair of distinct ocelli on the soft-rayed dorsal fin (Ref. 37816).
An uncommon inhabitant of clear waters rich in corals to depths of 40 m or more. Feeds on small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 89972). Secretive and usually observed at night. During the day in caves and sponges, and usually well out of sight (Ref. 48635). Venomous spines.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. (Ref. 1602)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 26.6 - 28.9, mean 28 °C (based on 432 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5078 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00440 - 0.02274), b=3.02 (2.83 - 3.21), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.7 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 93.3 [46.5, 212.9] mg/100g; Iron = 0.722 [0.373, 1.860] mg/100g; Protein = 18.1 [16.2, 20.1] %; Omega3 = 0.234 [0.102, 0.631] g/100g; Selenium = 24.2 [12.4, 58.9] μg/100g; VitaminA = 168 [57, 462] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.62 [1.11, 2.34] mg/100g (wet weight);