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Pteropterus cinctus (Rüppell, 1838) Red sea lionfish |
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photo by
Bogorodsky, S.V. |
| Family: | Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes), subfamily: Pteroinae | |||
| Max. size: | 15.94 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; marine; depth range 5 - 15 m | |||
| Distribution: | Western Indian Ocean: restricted to the Red Sea. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 6-7. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: usually D XII,11 (rarely XII,10 or XII,12) and pectoral-fin rays 16 (rarely 15, 17 or 18); scale rows in longitudinal series 51-57; dorsal-fin soft rays relatively long with longest ray length 30.9-40.5 (mean 35.8) % of SL; anal-fin soft rays relatively long with longest ray length 35.8-44.8 (40.4) % of SL; pectoralfin rays relatively long, the ninth with length 75.6-113.2 (92.4) % of SL; pelvic-fin soft rays relatively long with longest ray length 48.2-71.9 (60.0) % of SL, its posterior tip reaching or extending beyond vertical through posteriormost anal-fin soft ray base when depressed; supraocular tentacle with no lateral branches; postorbital sensory canal absent or is not connected to sphenotic spine base at any life history stage. Colouration: body sides with five broad dark black bands, plus a single horizontal broad dark band on caudal peduncle, the fourth and fifth body bands relatively narrow, dorsal width 5.8-9.3 (mean 7.4) % of SL and 3.4-9.3 (7.3) % of SL, respectively; fourth additional (inserted) marking relatively broad, dorsal width 2.1-4.9 (3.6) % of SL (Ref. 123589). | |||
| Biology: | Inhabits sandy bottom of coral reefs (Ref. 123589). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||