Description:

Dorsal spines: 13; Dorsal rays: 10-11; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 6-7.

A robust full-bodied fish with large fan-shaped pectoral fins and prominent, long dorsal spines. Mid-dorsal spines longer than body depth.

Colour. Body reddish-brown with 5 dark bars, separated by whitish bars (themselves split by thin dark barks in larger specimens). Pale and darker bands on the dorsal-fin spines. Median fins with small dark spots. Long, banded tentacle usually present above eye. Dark spot on cheek. Pectoral fins with broken barring on reddish colour becoming paler distally.

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 25cm SL.

Found on coral, rubble, or rock bottoms of reef flats; also in coastal to outer reef habitats in sheltered lagoons and in caves, sometimes in small aggregations (Depth 2-80m, usually in shallow water). Spawn in pairs. Courtship and spawning occur at night. Males aggressive, females are smaller and develop almost white face when in courtship.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not caught in the artisanal fishery.

Venomous. 13 dorsal spines are venomous.

Photos courtesy of NM photography, specimen photo’d in Beau Vallon.

Bray, D.J. Dendrochirus zebra in Fishes of Australia, http://136.154.202.208/home/species/3210 (25/06/20).

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2020. FishBase. https://www.fishbase.in/summary/Dendrochirus-zebra (25/06/20).

Motomura, H. & Matsuura, K. 2016. Dendrochirus zebra. The IUCN Red List 2016: e.T69793953A69800937. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T69793953A69800937.en. (25/06/20).

Smith, M & Heemstra, P Eds. (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4

Nevill, J.E.G. (2020). Seychelles Seatizens. Dendrochirus zebra. https://seatizens.sc/species/dendrochirus-zebra-cuvier-1829/