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🌊 Marine 🌡️ Tropical

Dotted sweeper

Parapriacanthus punctulatus Randall & Bogorodsky, 2016
Max Length
6.7 cm
Max Weight
Lifespan
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
16–61 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
13.00/100
Typical Length
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Stomach contents include a half-digested polychaete about 45 mm by 5 mm, along with copepods, crustacean larvae, and small fishes .

Scientific Name
Parapriacanthus punctulatus
Authority
Randall & Bogorodsky, 2016
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Max Length
6.7 cm
Depth Range
16–61 m
Trophic Level
3.3
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
13.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 20 - 23. This species is characterized by the following: D VI,9; A III,21 (20-23); pectoral-fin rays 16 (15-17); lateral-line scales 69 (63-72); scale rows above lateral line to base of dorsal fin 5.5; gill rakers 24 (23-26, modally 25); body depth 3.2 (3.25-3.35) in SL, width 2.1 (2.0-2.2) in body depth; depth of caudal-peduncle 10.4 (8.9-9.6) in SL; head length 2.95 (2.8-2.9) in SL; snout length 11.4-13.0 in SL; mouth forming an angle of about 60° to horizontal axis of body; sharply conical, recurved teeth in 2 irregular rows in upper row more forward-projecting, those of second row more strongly recurved; similar smaller teeth in lower jaw, well-spaced, in a single row; very small, incurved, sharply conical teeth in a single irregular row on vomer and palatines; thin lips, covered with closely adjacent papillae; tongue broadly triangular, indented indented on side near tip, forming a small, half-round, flexible flap; predorsal length 2.3 (2.3-2.4) in SL; first dorsal-fin soft ray is longest, 5.3 (4.7-5.4) in SL; caudal fin forked with fin length 4.5 (3.6-4.3) in SL; pectoral-fin length 3.5 (3.25-3.6) in SL; prepelvic length 2.7 (2.5-2.7) in SL; pelvic fins not reaching the anus, fin length 5.9 (5.1-6.5) in SL; preanal length 1.5 (1.5-1.6) in SL; without a pin-like dark line anterior to anus; instead a very dark blue band with a median dull pink streak that narrows anteriorly; black iris in preserved holotype .: short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Dotted sweeper is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Dotted sweeper is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Dotted sweeper is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 16 - 61 m . Tropical South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal) and Mozambique to the Comoro Islands, northern Madagascar, Seychelles, the Mascarene Ridge, and the Mascarene Island of Réunion.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
3.3±0.4

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01479 × L3.01 (TL)
Max TL
6.7cm
Dorsal Spines
6
Dorsal Rays
9
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
22

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
13.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Randall & Bogorodsky, 2016

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