Family : Malacanthidae (Tilefishes) , subfamily: Malacanthinae
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Pastel tilefish
Fish Name : Hoplolatilus fronticinctus
Max size : 21.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 5591)
Environment : reef-associated ; depth range 40 - 70 m
Climate : tropical; 24°N - 21°S
Global Importance : aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: off Kosi Bay in South Africa (Ref. 11228) eastward to the Solomon Islands, north to the Philippines, Palau, and the Marshall Islands (Ref. 33390).
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-13; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 12-12; Vertebrae: 24-24. Body pale olive-grey, darker above, belly pale blue; bluish violet band joining eyes across front of snout; lips and cheeks blue; upper 1/3 of pectoral fins bluish white, remainder pale yellow (Ref. 5591). This rare species has the deepest body in the genus and a thicker tail than H. cuniculus and H. starcki (Ref. 37816).
Biology : Inhabits sandy areas at bases of reefs (Ref. 9710). A rare species that schools above huge mounds of rubble that it apparently builds (up to 5.5 m long x 3 m wide over 1 m high)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator : Dooley, James
Main Ref : Randall, J.E. and J.K. Dooley. 1974. (Ref. 9870)

India country information
Common Names : [ No common name ]
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses