Coral Croucher, Caracanthus unipinna (Gray, 1831)
Introduction
The Coral Croucher is covered with papillae, giving it a furry appearance. It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific, living in between the branches of corals.
Identification
The Coral Croucher has an oval-shaped body. It is covered with papillae, giving it a furry appearance.
The fish is entirely brown, but paler ventrally.
The family Caracanthidae contains a single genus and four species. Caracanthids are related to the scorpionfishes. This relationship does not seem likely when looking at the adults, but becomes obvious when the larvae are examined.
Habitat
It lives in between the branches of corals.
Distribution
The Coral Croucher occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific.
In Australia it is recorded from the northern to southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
References
- Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.