Gunnellichthys Monostigma

Description: Characterized by generally pale greyish body color; presence of small black spot posteriorly on opercle; head with iridescent blue stripe mid-dorsally, and sometimes with yellow to orange lateral stripe; head without scales; origin of dorsal fin slightly anterior to level of upper end of gill opening; slightly rounded to rhomboid caudal fin; depth of body 10-13 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 21 - 22; Dorsal soft rays (total): 39 - 42; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 38 - 43

Found over open sandy areas, sometimes with sparse plant growth. Reported to be solitary and feeds on small benthic and pelagic crustaceans (Ref. 2334). Reported by Strasburg (1967) to be common over sandy lagoon bottom in 6 - 20 feet where it hovers 6-12 inches above the substrate and when approached, it dives headfirst into narrow burrows in the sand. Stomach contents include amphipods, harpacticoid copepods, inshore pelagic copepods (Oithona and Acrocalanus), ostracods, shrimps, and crab fragments; thus, this species apparently forages on benthos and can also capture zooplankton (Ref. 48240).

Inhabits coastal sand slopes, subject to strong currents (Ref. 48637). Found over open sandy areas, sometimes with sparse plant growth. Solitary. Feeds on small benthic and pelagic crustaceans (Ref. 1602).

aquarium: commercial