Scientific Name
Ablabys taenianotus

Common Name
Cockatoo waspfish

Biology
Inhabits shallow, subtidal areas with sand rubble and weed (Ref. 9710). A strongly compressed fish that can be seen rocking back and forth on the bottom in response to surge. Easily caught with small hand nets. Nocturnal (Ref. 48635).

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1829

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Wasp fishes (Tetrarogidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific: Andaman Sea to Fiji, north to Japan, south to Australia. Replaced by Ablabys binotatus in the western Indian Ocean (Ref. 9710).

Range

38°N - 31°S, 90°E - 179°E

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

78 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 78 m (Ref. 11897)

Trophic Level

3.22 s.e. 0.39 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

15.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (35 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Venomous

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated