Heteroscarus acroptilus (Richardson, 1846)
Rainbow cale
photo by Schulz, S.

Family:  Odacidae (Cales and weed-whitings)
Max. size:  24 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 15 m
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean: southern coast of Australia: Bacon Island, Western Australia to Newcastle, New South Wales; including the northern coast of Tasmania to as far as St. Helens.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Mainly restricted to exposed coastlines with rocky reefs covered with brown macroalgae and areas with broad-leafed seagrasses, such as Posidonia.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 18 September 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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