| Family: |
Tetrarogidae (Wasp fishes) |
| Max. size: |
10 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 8 - 90 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: known from scattered localities from off Zanzibar to New Caledonia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 6-6. Recognized by the large rounded head and deeply incised membranes of the spinous part of the dorsal fin (Ref. 48635).
Description: Characterized by having shades of brown, black and red color; ventral body often red; white patch between eyes; dorsal fin origin over posterior one-third of eye and first spine more than half length of second; absence of scales; two spines on lacrimal curving laterally and posteriorly, posterior one nearly double the length of anterior spine; body depth 2.9 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits silty coastal reefs (Ref. 9710); also in sheltered sand habitats in coastal bays and deep offshore. Uncommon and mainly known from prawn trawling grounds. Nocturnal, coming out on dusk, usually buries itself in the sand during the day (Ref. 48635). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 June 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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