Centriscus scutatus Linnaeus, 1758
Grooved razor-fish
Centriscus scutatus
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Centriscidae (Snipefishes and shrimpfishes), subfamily: Centriscinae
Max. size:  17 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 2 - 100 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and Arabian Gulf (Ref. 11441) to New Guinea, north to southern Japan, south to New South Wales, Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 3-3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal soft rays: 11-12. Silvery with reddish brown to blackish mid-lateral stripe. Main dorsal spine moderately long and without joint (Ref. 48635). Description: Characterized by extremely thin or flattened and nearly transparent body; first dorsal spine horizontal and projecting beyond tail tip, rigid, without movable segment posteriorly; grooved interorbital (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Inhabits sandy or muddy floors of shallow inlet waters. Usually in large schools among branching corals, seawhip gardens and black coral bushes to about 15 m depth. Small juveniles in surface waters and sometimes in small groups along beach edges in quiet bays and settle with crinoids or urchins (Ref. 48635). Usually processed into fishmeal (Ref. 2858).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 25 August 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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