| Family: |
Holocentridae (Squirrelfishes, soldierfishes), subfamily: Holocentrinae |
| Max. size: |
27 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 92.9 g |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 6 - 40 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Pacific: Indonesia (including Mentawai Islands), Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Great Barrier Reef. Also reported from Malaysia (Ref. 5756), Tosa Bay, Japan (Ref. 559), and Viet Nam (Ref. 9706). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal spines: 4-4; Anal soft rays: 9-9. This species is distinguished by the following characters: 3rd or 4th dorsal spines longest, 1.8-2.0 HL; pectoral rays 13-14 (usually 13); lateral line scales 33-38, scale rows above 2.5; oblique scale rows on cheek 4; gill rakers of first gill arch 5-7 + 9-11; body depth 2.7-3.0 in SL; posterior edge of nasal fossa with 1-6 spinules, 0-1 at anterior edge; upper edge of first suborbital bone with a laterally projecting spine near a vertical at the front edge of orbit, followed by a serrated ridge; preopercular spine 3/4 to nearly equal to orbit diameter, 2.85-3.5 in head length. Colour of body with alternating broad deep red and narrow silvery stripes on body; distinct black spot on middle of caudal-fin base; black marks at base of soft dorsal and anal fins; dark streak near anterior edge of anal fin (Ref. 27370, 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits coral-rich areas of outer reef slopes and drop-offs to depths greater than 40 m (Ref. 9710). Hides in caves or beneath ledges by day; forage for food at night, mainly on benthic crabs and shrimps. Spine of preopercle venomous. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
venomous |
| Country info: |
Reported from Bacon and Bulan, Sorsogon (Ref. 1555), Zamboanga, Mindanao (Ref. 1620), Tañon Strait (Ref. 107276), Tubbataha Reef, Palawan (Ref. 58652) and Lanuza Bay (Ref. 104756). Also known in Calamianes Islands, northern Palawan (Ref. 48613). Museum: Jolo, Sulu, FMNH 23370. Palawan, Ulugan Bay, USNM 148512. Puerto Princesa, USNM 226648, 259009. Cebu, Mactan I., USNM 288292. Sombrero I., AMS I.21915-064. Mindoro, LACM 42489-8. Lubang I., MCZ 33311. Lingayen Gulf, LACM 42456-8 (Ref. 27370). Also Ref. 280, 2334, 53416, 90102, 121724. |
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