Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 60 m (Ref. 27115), usually 25 - 60 m (Ref. 27115). Tropical; 24°C - 28°C (Ref. 27115); 35°N - 31°S, 30°E - 128°W
Indo-Pacific: East Africa, including the Mascarene Islands (Ref. 37792) to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 100.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2334); max. reported age: 23 years (Ref. 52229)
Dorsal spines (total): 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 28 - 29; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 27 - 28. Plain brown or olivaceous in color, paler below; subadults with black caudal rays, narrow margins and white caudal filaments; pectoral fins with white distal margins (Ref. 3145).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
Juveniles occur in clear, shallow lagoon reefs at depths as little as 1 m; adults rarely seen in less than 25 m, encountered off outer reef drop-offs in small schools (Ref. 30573, 48637). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feeds on large zooplankton during the day and shelter within the reef during the night; also benthic algae (Ref. 30573, 48637).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Spawn in pairs (Ref. 240).
Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. (Ref. 1602)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30298)
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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