Synchiropus splendidus

Mandarinfish
Synchiropus splendidus
Synchiropus splendidus, QLD, Australia, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Synchiropus splendidus
Synchiropus splendidus, adult, Sulawesi, Indonesia, Photo: Ian Shaw
Synchiropus splendidus
Synchiropus splendidus, Sulawesi, Indonesia, Photo: Graham Edgar
Synchiropus splendidus
Synchiropus splendidus, Sulawesi, Indonesia, Photo: Graham Edgar
Synchiropus splendidus
Synchiropus splendidus, QLD, Australia, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
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Synchiropus splendidus
Synchiropus splendidus
Synchiropus splendidus
Synchiropus splendidus
Synchiropus splendidus

Distribution

Tropical Indo-Pacific


Description

Unmistakable swirling psychedelic pattern of green, blue and orange markings, yellow-spotted patch on throat and cheek. Hides within the reef during the day, swims above coral branches and rubble at dusk, moving in short jerks. Skin is toxic.


Information

Max Size: 6 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 27.4-31.4°C

Depth: 1-18 m

Habitat Generalization Index: N/A

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: Infrequent (4.5% 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: RD Stuart-Smith, GJ Edgar, AJ Green, IV Shaw. 2015. Tropical Marine Fishes of Australia. Reed New Holland