Dendrochirus zebra (Zebra turkeyfish)

Identification

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 6 – 7. Body reddish with 5 dark bars, alternating with thin dark bars in large specimens; median fins with small dark spots; dark spot on cheeK.. Mid-dorsal spines longer than body depth.

Status

Has not yet been assessed for the IUCN Red List.

Habitat

Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa, north to southern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands, south to Australia and Lord Howe Island.
Reef-associated, found on coral, rubble, or rock bottoms of reef flats (Ref. 9710); also in coastal to outer reef habitats in sheltered lagoons and in caves, sometimes in small aggregations. Usually shallow, from 3-60m, but also reported to 80 m depth.

Reproduction

Spawn in pairs. Courtship and spawning occur at night. Males aggressive, females are smaller and develop almost white face when in courtship. Spawning occurs at the apex of a short and rapid paired ascent resulting in a gelatinous mass of 2,000 to 15,000 eggs. Hatching occurs 36 hours later and larvae settle out in a few weeks at a size of 10-12 mm.

Size

Max length : 25.0 cm.

Prey / Predation

Feed only on small crustaceans, and are in turn preyed upon by groupers.

Special features

Thirteen venomous spines on its back, used to defend themselves. They are also immune to poison each other.
Pelagic stages travel great distances and expatriate to sub-tropical zones.
Other names: Zebra lionfish.