|
Pseudovespicula dracaena (Cuvier, 1829) Draco waspfish |
|
|
photo by
FAO |
| Family: | Tetrarogidae (Wasp fishes) | |||
| Max. size: | 7.5 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; marine | |||
| Distribution: | Western Indian Ocean. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 5-6. Body light brown, irregularly blotched with darker brown; a broad dark band across interorbital, continuing as a bar below eye and another band from origin of dorsal fin to eye. Dorsal fin pale with a large dark brown blotch in middle of the fin, usually between 6th and 9th spines; other irregular blotches especially posteriorly. Caudal fin whitish with faint small dark spots. No scales. Body depth 2.45-3.1 in SL. Lacrimal with 2 spines, a short ventral one and a large posterior one that extends to below center of eye. Preopercle with a large spine in line with suborbital ridge; the second spine, lower, very small and blunt. Origin of dorsal fin above rear edge of eye; a broad space between 3rd and 4th dorsal spines, the associated membrane deeply incised, nearly dividing the dorsal into 2 fins. Caudal fin truncate, slightly rounded when spread (Ref. 11441). | |||
| Biology: | Found inshore on sandy bottoms, often in bays. | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 20 June 2017 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | venomous | |||