Brunei dartfish

📖 Overview

Form loose aggregations of 10-50 individuals, observed hovering 50-100 cm above the substrate on a very gradual but strongly current-swept sand and rubble slope in 28-31 m depth. Collection reef with visibility invariably quite low (5-8 m maximum) and where there was frequently a minor thermocline at the 20-25 m depth range, with the fish exposed to moderately cooler temperatures down to 27°C. When approached too closely, individuals would dive into burrows in the sand, sometimes individually but also multiple individuals entering the same burrow .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 10 - 12; Vertebrae: 26. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VI + I,11-13 (rarely 13), the spines of first dorsal fin with protruding filaments; A I,10-12 (rarely 12); pectoral-fin rays 18-19; scales in longitudinal series 52-58; total gill rakers on first arch 15-16; segmented caudal-fin rays 17; branched caudal-fin rays 11; forked caudal fin with filament on upper and lower lobe; no preopercular pores; interorbital pores paired; colour in life semi-translucent grey with yellowish hue; with short yellow stripe on snout and from upper eye to pectoral-fin base; blue stripe from mid-interorbital to first dorsal-fin origin; dorsal fins are translucent with yellowish hue, both dorsal fins have prominent basal and submarginal blue stripes; caudal fin yellowish to yellow-brown with blue upper and lower margins .: elongated; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Brunei dartfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 25 - 31 m . Tropical

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

👥 Community & Contribute