Trichonotus elegans Shimada & Yoshino, 1984
Long-rayed sand-diver
photo by Hazes, B.

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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