Bony fish · Perciformes · Priacanthidae

Moontail Bullseye

Priacanthus hamrur

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The moontail bullseye is a marine fish belonging to the family Priacanthidae. It is native to the Indian and Pacific oceans. It lives in the clear waters of coastal lagoons and coral reefs, and its depth range runs from 8 to 250 m. It is red in colour and can reach a length of 45 cm.

Size

up to 45 cm

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanCarnivore Nocturnal Fish Ocean

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Fun facts

It changes colour in seconds: from deep red to pinkish silver with six reddish bars.
It hunts small fish, crustaceans, cephalopods and polychaetes by night; its enormous eyes are an adaptation to that nocturnal life.
It usually lives alone, but forms small aggregations and sometimes large shoals in open water.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bony fish)
Habitat & environment: Outer reef slopes, rocky areas and lagoons of the tropical Indo-Pacific, between 8 and 250 m and mostly between 30 and 50 m
Sexual maturity: Males mature between 18 and 19 cm and females between 19 and 20 cm; mean length at first maturity 22 cm

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priacanthus_hamrur