Plotosus lineatus

DANGER: Venomous spines on on the first dorsal fins and pectoral fins, which may hurt very painfully (Fishes of Europe and the Mediterranean)

Size range: Max 32 (Fishes of Europe and the Mediterranean & Fishbase)

Common size:20- 25 (Fishes of Europe and the Mediterranean). 25 cm (Fishbase)

Depth range: 0 - 80 m (Fishes of Europe and the Mediterranean) | 1-60 m (Fishbase)

Habitat:

• Hard - rocky, Coral reefs
• Soft - sand
• vegetation - seagrass (Fishbase)

Water column position:

• Benthic

Schooling characteristics:

• Juveniles - dense ball-shaped schools of about 100 individuals
• Adults - smaller schools, about 20 individuals , or solitary (Fishbase)

Colors & patterns: Focus on unique characteristics which distinguish the species from others, specify differences between:

• 2 white longitudinal lines
• 4 x 2 barbels around mouth
• 2nd dorsal and anal fins merged with pointed tail

Behavior:

• Reef-associated

2. Activity: (TBC)

3. Approach: (TBC)

4. Unique behavior:The male in the spawning pair constructs the nest under rocks and other large pieces of debris. After spawning, the female departs while the male guards the eggs (fishbase)

5. Feeding characteristic - mainly animals. crustaceans, mollusks, worms, and sometimes fish (Fishbase)

Native/Exotic: Exotic, immigrated from the Red Sea

EM notes: description of special east Mediterranean characteristics.