Family: |
Trichonotidae (Sanddivers) |
Max. size: |
18 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 40 m |
Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: Maldive Islands to Micronesia and Fiji, north to Ryukyu Islands. |
Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 43-45; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 39-42. Identified by the long filaments on the dorsal fin of the male (Ref. 48636). Body scaleless above and below lateral line on anterior half (Ref 12934). |
Biology: |
Found in coastal reef slopes and deep outer reef lagoons in current channels. Usually in large groups with several large males (Ref. 48636). Inhabits sand-rubble bottoms (Ref. 90102). Found hovering above sandy slopes. Usually forms a harem of one male-phase fish and about a dozen female-phase fish (Ref. 37240). Normally buried when no current is running (Ref. 48636). |
IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 12 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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