Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Japan, south to New Caledonia.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm31.8, range 32 - ? cm Max length : 100.0 cm FL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3678); common length : 55.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5450); max. published weight: 6.3 kg (Ref. 4699)
Typically found solitary or in groups, often in turbid water. on open muddy, sandy or silty substrates in protected bays or estuaries, around rock outcrops, wreckage and debris (Ref. 48635, 90102). Also in shallow coastal areas and coral reefs (Ref. 30573). Juveniles are found in weedy areas (Ref. 2799). Feeds on benthic invertebrates and fishes (Ref. 30573). Reportedly ciguatoxic in some areas (Ref. 2799). Marketed fresh and frozen (Ref. 9987). Five subspecies recognized across Indo-Pacific region including D. p. labiosum and D. p. pictum (Ref. 90102)
Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 p. (Ref. 2334)
Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 24.1 - 29.1, mean 28 °C (based on 2894 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD50 = 0.5312 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00653 - 0.01533), b=3.00 (2.87 - 3.13), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref. 93245).
Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.7 ±0.2 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref. 120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.17; tm=3-4; Fec=495,450).
Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Moderate vulnerability (45 of 100) .
