Family : Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes) , subfamily: Pteroinae
Order : Scorpaeniformes  (scorpionfishes and flatheads)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Shortfin turkeyfish
Fish Name : Dendrochirus brachypterus
Max size : 17.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 9710)
Environment : reef-associated ; depth range 0 - 68 m
Climate : tropical; 32°N - 32°S
Global Importance : fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa and Tonga, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island; Mariana Islands in Micronesia; the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819) and Australia.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 5-6. Body reddish with vague broad bars; paired fins with bars; median fins with small dark spots (Ref. 4313). Mid-dorsal spines shorter than body depth (Ref. 37816).
Biology : Common in reef flats and shallow lagoons, in areas with weed-covered rocks on sandy substrates. Adults often found on sponges and juveniles are sometimes found in small aggregations on remote bommies with 10 or so individuals (Ref. 48635). Nocturnal. Feeds on small crustaceans (Ref. 37816)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : venomous , Halstead, B.W., P.S. Auerbach and D.R. Campbell. 1990
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Eschmeyer, W.N.. 1986. (Ref. 4313)

India country information
Common Names : ചവരാലി, ചാവരലി , Chavarali, Fang-hamas
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses