Radial Leatherjacket

Acreichthys radiatus is a species of demersal marine fish which belongs to the family Monacanthidae widespread throughout the tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean, from Ryukyu Islands, the Philippines,the oriental part of Indonesia, the Papua New Guinea, the north east area of Australia, and New Caledonia.

Description

It's a small size fish that can reach a maximum size of 7 cm length. On average, a mature male ranges from 2.2-4.9 centimeters (0.9-1.9 inches) in length, while a mature female is 2.1-3.4 centimeters (0.8-1.3 inches) long. It has two dorsal spines, 26-29 soft rays, and 25-27 anal soft rays. The males develop bristles on their caudal peduncles when they reach sexual maturity.

Distribution

Western Pacific: Ryukyu Islands, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, and New Caledonia. Reported from Papua New Guinea.

Habitat

This species occurs in coral reefs at depths of 2–12 meters (6.5-39.3 feet). It is usually found among soft corals and is believed to feed off of both the coral polyps and the coral tissue.