Stellar Rockhopper

Pale olive grey with 3 broad, dusky bands radiating from eye, series of H-shaped dark bars on side of body, and large black spot distally between first and second dorsal spines. Dorsal fin deeply notched; anal rays rarely 16; pectoral rays usually 14; pelvic spine not visible externally; last lateral-line tube below 10th dorsal spine to caudal peduncle; nape with 1 cirrus on each side; supraorbital tentacle blade-like without cirri; anterior nostril cirri present posteriorly; upper lip margin crenulate medially; body depth at anal-fin origin about 5.0 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Oviparous, distinct pairing (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 16; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 16 - 18

Found in a variety of rocky shores, but abundant in exposed areas (Ref. 124612).

Adults are found on exposed rocky coasts in the intertidal zone to 3 m deep (Ref. 90102). Oviparous. Eggs are demersal and adhesive (Ref. 205), and are attached to the substrate via a filamentous, adhesive pad or pedestal (Ref. 94114). Larvae are planktonic, often found in shallow, coastal waters (Ref. 94114).

分布於西太平洋區，包括台灣及泰國灣等。台灣分布於東部、南部、北部、澎湖、小琉球及蘭嶼等海域。

小型魚類，僅具學術研究價值。

體延長形，稍側扁，似圓柱狀；頭鈍短。僅成熟雄魚頭頂具冠膜；鼻鬚掌狀分支；眼上鬚和頸鬚單一不分支。上唇中央部份具鋸齒緣，下唇平滑；齒骨具一犬齒，其餘齒小且可動。D. XII-XIII, 14-16； A. II, 16-18； P. 14； V. I, 4。背鰭具深缺刻，最後一棘小，背鰭與尾柄相連，臀鰭不與尾柄相連，雌魚臀鰭第一棘埋入皮內；尾鰭鰭條分叉。體色橄欖灰，眼部有3條輻射狀寬黑帶，頭部下方有不明顯的Λ形淡紋，體側有6-7對黑色帶；鰭皆為灰黑色，背鰭第一與第二棘間鰭膜上方有一大黑斑。

主要棲息於岩石岸的潮間帶、珊瑚礁的浪拂區等，以藻類、碎屑和小型無脊椎動物為食。