Striped Fin Rockcod

Distinguished by the following characteristics: body color dark reddish brown; head and body covered with small, irregular, close-set, dark red or reddish brown spots, pale interspaces forming irregular pale network pattern; 4 narrow, irregular, oblique, pale bars running down and forward on body; paired fins generally darker than body; body depth contained 3.1-3.5 times in SL; body width 1.7-2.0 times in depth; head length 2.3-2.4 times in SL; interorbital width 5.9-6.8 times in HL; concave interorbital area; rounded preopercle, finely serrate, shallow indentation just above angle; upper edge of operculum almost straight; inconspicuous opercular spines; posterior and anterior nostrils subequal; maxilla not reaching past eye; front of upper jaw with a pair of large, curved, fixed canines and a pair of similar but slightly smaller canines at front of lower jaw; lateral part of lower jaws with an outer row of 8-9 slightly smaller fixed canines and an inner row of smaller , more slender depressible teeth (Ref. 89707).

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 16; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9

Appears to be a rare species, but it is of some importance to South African sport fishers along the northern coast of Natal. Coral reef-associated species inhabiting depths of 20-50 m (Ref. 89707). Feeds on fishes and invertebrates (Ref. 89707). Testes of a 61 cm SL specimen contained a central lumen and numerous 'brown bodies' along the lateral edges of the gonadal lamellae.

fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes

Testes of a 61 cm SL specimen contained a central lumen and numerous 'brown bodies' along the lateral edges of the gonadal lamellae. Appears to be a rare species, but it is of some importance to South African sport fishermen along the northern coast of Natal.