Diploprion bifasciatum Cuvier, 1828

Taxonomic Information

Diploprion bifasciatum Cuvier, 1828 has a compressed, moderately deep body, with a total length 3 to 3.4 times the body depth.

Body Scale Characteristics

Almost all of its body is covered in small ctenoid scales.

Dorsal Fin Structure

The dorsal fin has a deep incision between its spined and soft-rayed sections.

Pelvic Fin Characteristics

It has long pelvic fins that extend past the spiny portion of the anal fin.

Fin Ray Count

The dorsal fin has 8 spines and 13 to 16 soft rays, while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 12 to 13 soft rays.

Adult Coloration

Adults of this species normally range in colour from pale yellow or greyish-yellow to bright yellow, with one dark bar running through the eye and another wider dark band on the posterior part of the body; all fins are yellow.

Large Individual Coloration

Larger individuals can be nearly entirely black, still with yellow fins.

Juvenile Coloration

Small juveniles are bluish on the anterior part of their bodies and yellow on the posterior, and their dorsal fin spiny section is black.

Juvenile Mimicry

Juveniles appear to mimic local venomous blennies of the genus Meiacanthus that are blue or grey in colour.

Maximum Size

This species reaches a maximum total length of 25 centimetres (9.8 in).

Overall Distribution Range

Diploprion bifasciatum has a wide distribution across the Indo-West Pacific.

Extended Geographic Range

Its range extends from the Maldives and India east to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and New Caledonia, reaching north as far as southern Japan and south to Australia.

Australian Distribution

In Australia, its distribution runs from Rottnest Island in Western Australia to the Solitary Islands Marine Park in New South Wales; juveniles may be found further south, and the species also occurs around Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea.

Habitat Preferences

This fish prefers coastal habitats in semi-silty conditions, but also occurs near caves and crevices in rocky and coral reefs.

Depth Range

It lives at depths from 1 to 50 metres (3.3 to 164.0 ft).

Feeding Mechanism

It is a predatory species that can feed on relatively large prey, which it captures and swallows whole using its highly protrusible jaws.

Diet Composition

Stomach content analysis confirms it feeds mainly on fishes and crustaceans.

Stress Response

When stressed, this species secretes the skin toxin grammistin.