Dicotylichthys punctulatus

Three-bar porcupinefish | Balloonfish | Burrfish | Spotted Porcupine Fish
Dicotylichthys punctulatus
Dicotylichthys punctulatus, adult, NSW, Australia, Photo: Ian Shaw
Dicotylichthys punctulatus
Dicotylichthys punctulatus, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Tom Davis
Dicotylichthys punctulatus
Dicotylichthys punctulatus, juvenile, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Graham Edgar
Dicotylichthys punctulatus
Dicotylichthys punctulatus, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Tom Davis
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Dicotylichthys punctulatus
Dicotylichthys punctulatus
Dicotylichthys punctulatus
Dicotylichthys punctulatus

Distribution

Localised


Description

Short, widely-spaced spines. White body with small black spots and 3 dark bars. Temperate and subtropical east coast.


Information

Max Size: 40 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 15.3-25.6°C

Depth: 1-50m

Habitat Generalization Index: 5.28

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Not Evaluated

Occurrence: Common (26.6% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney