Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and flatheads) >
Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes) > Pteroinae
Etymology: Dendrochirus: Greek, dendron = tree + Greek, cheir = hands; with tree like marks (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 40 m (Ref. 9710). Tropical, preferred ?; 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. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Human uses
Aquarium: commercial
More information
Common namesSynonymsMetabolismPredatorsEcotoxicologyReproductionMaturitySpawningFecundityEggsEgg development
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5312 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01122 (0.00449 - 0.02805), b=3.09 (2.87 - 3.31), 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.
69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (29 of 100) .