Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 30 m (Ref. 48635). Tropical; 0°S - 29°S, 32°E - 170°W
Indo-West Pacific: three known specimens from Natal, South Africa (Ref. 4315); also from north and northwestern Australia, and possibly extending to western Papua New Guinea. Reported from Samoa (Ref. 592).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2334)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 111; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11. Pale tan in color, whitish below; back crossed by a broad dark band at spiny dorsal and 2-3 smaller dark bands posteriorly; prominent black blotch on pelvic fins (Ref. 4315).
Inhabits coastal mud or sand channels and slopes (Ref. 48635). Feeds mainly on crabs, prawns, and also fish. Generally not used food (Ref. 2334).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kailola, P.J., 1987. The fishes of Papua New Guinea: a revised and annotated checklist. Vol. II Scorpaenidae to Callionymidae. Research Bulletin No. 41, Research Section, Dept. of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Papua New Guinea. (Ref. 6192)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 24.7 - 29.3, mean 28 °C (based on 1551 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5039 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00457 (0.00230 - 0.00908), b=3.09 (2.91 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.67 se; based on food items.
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).