Monocentris japonica
FAMILY
Monocentridae
TAXONOMY
Monocentris japonica Houttuyn, 1782, Nagasaki, Japan.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Dick bridegroom fish, Japanese pineapplefish, knight
fish, pine sculpin; French: Poisson ananas; German: Japanischer
Reuterfisch/Tannenzapfenfisch.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Can reach 6.5 in (16.5 cm) in length. Has large scales bordered
in black. The scales are armed with spines that point toward
the tail. The light organ is located near the mouth.
DISTRIBUTION
Southern Japan, spreading down to southern Australia, and
west to the Red Sea.
HABITAT
Prefers rocky reefs. The young are found in shallow waters of
10–20 ft (3 to 6.1 m); the adults inhabit depths of 60–700 ft
(18–213 m).
BEHAVIOR
Usually solitary or in pairs, but individuals sometimes congregate
in schools of 50–100.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Nocturnal feeder. Searches sandy sea bottoms for prey, which
includes small fishes, shrimps, and other invertebrates.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Mostly unknown, but they probably do not guard the eggs or
young.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Pineconefishes are a minor part of the aquarium trade.
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