Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
Description: Preorbital bone broader than eye. Preopercular notch and knob absent. Mouth reaching below front of eye. Anterior soft rays of dorsal and anal fins produced into long filaments. Pectoral fin long, reaching level of anus. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Juveniles light brown above and white below with broad black stripe along middle of sides (Ref. 55). Body depth 2.2-2.5 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Morphology
provided by Fishbase
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14 - 18; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8 - 11
Trophic Strategy
provided by Fishbase
Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154). Feeds on fish, benthic crustaceans and mollusks (Ref. 55).
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Adults occur over sand bottoms in the vicinity of coral reefs. Usually seen singly. They feed on fishes and sand-dwelling crustaceans and mollusks. Mature individuals aggregate to spawn along seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). They are occasionally seen in markets.
Importance
provided by Fishbase
fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: very high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family