Description

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 9. Body dark brown with yellow stripes; small juveniles with spots, specimens up to 5 cm SL with 3 stripes, specimens at least 8 cm SL with 6 stripes, the number of stripes increases and may break into a series of dashes in large adults (Ref. 4326).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Perciformes/Serranoidei

Family: Grammistidae

Genus: Grammistes

Species: Grammistes sexlineatus (Thunberg, 1792)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Inhabits coastal waters over corals and rocky substrates (Ref. 5213, 48635). Usually hides beneath ledges and small caves during the day (Ref. 4326, 48635). Small juveniles have only two white stripes, dividing with growth into numerous lines. The lines break-up into dashes and spots when adult (Ref. 48635). Feeds on fishes (Ref. 4821). Has toxin-producing glands in the dermis (Ref. 4326) which is extremely bitter to the taste (Ref. 11441). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 30874.

Habitat

associated