Diagonal sandperch
📖 Overview
Specimen collected on silty sand substrate, a piece of partially buried plastic tubing was used as a refuge by the fish. It has a well-developed testis, but a small strip of ovarian tissue was also found, indicative of a nearly completed sex change from female to male . Solitary . Maximum length of 15 cm (TL) of unsexed specimen reported from Ref. 90102.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 17; Vertebrae: 30. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body's upper third greenish-brown in life with a series of 6 large, quadrangular, blackish spots, progressively shorter posteriorly; the lower 2/3 of it white, faintly blotched with pink and dotted with black, and the lower third with 6 large, quadrangular, dark reddish spots, dotted with black dorsally; head bluish grey with an oblique black line on cheek below eye, ending in a small black spot, followed by 2 broad reddish bands; a large black spot on dorsal fin centered on base of spinous part, and a row of small black spots on the soft portion; base of anal fin with a row of black spots; caudal fin with 2 broad blackish stripes; D V,21; A I,17; pectoral rays 16; 57 lateral line scales; gill rakers 7 + 11; lower jaw projecting, 3 pairs of canine teeth anteriorly in jaws; palatine teeth absent; vomerine teeth in a narrow, chevron-shaped patch of 3-4 rows; ctenoid scales dorsally on opercle, becoming cycloid, progressively smaller, and nonimbricate ventrally on cheek; 4th dorsal spine longest 3.7 in HL; greatest body depth 4.8 in SL; head length (HL) 3.65 in SL; orbit diameter 4.4 in HL; fourth dorsal spine is the longest; caudal fin emarginate on upper half with a narrow protruding posterior upper lobe and rounded on ventral half; pectoral fins 5.75 in SL; pelvic fins just reaching anus, 5.05 in SL .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Diagonal sandperch is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 1 - 25 m . Tropical
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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