Scientific Name
Pterois radiata

Common Name
Radial firefish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 5 - 6. Reddish to brownish and with 5-6 broad dark bars on body separated by pale lines; horizontal dark area on caudal peduncle (Ref. 4313). Only species of Pterois that lacks markings between its vertical fin rays and has a pair of horizontal white stripes at base of its tail (Ref. 37816).

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1829

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Scorpionfishes or rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea to Sodwana Bay, South Africa and to the Society Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia. Records from the Mascarene Islands lack verification and are probably based on Pterois antennata (Ref. 33390).

Range

32°N - 30°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

30 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 30 m (Ref. 30573)

Trophic Level

3.57 s.e. 0.59 Based on food items.

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

24.0 cm

Common Length

20.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5010 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (39 of 100)

Resilience

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

Threat To Humans

Venomous (Ref. 4690)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated