Dendrochirus brachypterus

Dendrochirus brachypterus was first formally described in 1829 as Pterois brachyptera by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier with no type locality given.{{Cof genus|genus=Dendrochirus|access-date=2 March 2022}} This species is the type species of the brachypterus species complex within the genus Dendrochirus.{{cite journal | author1 = Matsunuma, M. | author2 = H. Motomura | author3 = S. V. Bogorodsky | name-list-style = and | year = 2017 | title = Review of Indo-Pacific dwarf lionfishes (Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae) in the Dendrochirus brachypterus complex, with description of a new species from the western Indian Ocean | journal = Ichthyological Research | volume = 64 | issue = 4 | pages = 369–414 | doi = 10.1007/s10228-017-0583-6 | bibcode = 2017IchtR..64..369M | url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316277066}} The specific name means "short-finned", an allusion to the relatively short pectoral fins compared to Dendrochirus zebra which Cuvier first described in the same publication.{{cite web | url = https://etyfish.org/perciformes9/ | title = Order Perciformes (Part 9): Suborder Scorpaenoidei: Family Scorpaenidae | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | editor1= Christopher Scharpf | editor2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | name-list-style = amp |date = 2 October 2021 | access-date = 23 February 2022 | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara}}

Dendrochirus brachypterus has 13 spines and 9 or 10 soft rays in its dorsal fin, the middle spines of the dorsal fin are shorter than the depth of the body, and there are 3 spines and 5 soft rays in the anal fin. The background colour is dusky mottled brown to reddish-brown broken by darker bars on the body. The pectoral fins are distinctly banded. There is a short tentacle over the eye and leaf-like appendages on the head and along the lateral line which vary in their development. There are no filaments on the pelvic fins.{{cite web | author = Bray, D.J. | year = 2017 | title = Dendrochirus brachypterus | work = Fishes of Australia | access-date = 2 March 2022 | url = https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3209 | publisher = Museums Victoria}} There are black spots edged with red on the filaments extending from the dorsal spines and there are 8-10 dark bars on pectoral fins.{{cite web | url = https://www.reeflifesurvey.com/species/Dendrochirus-brachypterus | title = Dendrochirus brachypterus Scorpaenidae Dwarf Lionfish | access-date = 2 March 2022 | publisher = Reef Life Survey}} This species attains a maximum published total length of {{cvt|17|cm}}.

Dendrochirus brachypterus has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution from the eastern coast of Africa from the Red Sea south to South Africa and eastwards to Samoa, north to the Philippines and south to Australia. In Australian waters, this species occurs from the Houtman Abrolhos in Western Australia to Sydney in New South Wales, as well as Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. The dwarf lionfish is found at depths between {{cvt|1|and|80|m}} in reef flats and shallow lagoons, where there are weed-covered rocks on sandy substrates.

Dendochirus brachypterus is a nocturnal predator of small crustaceans. The adults are frequently found on sponges while small aggregations of up to 10 juveniles frequent reef outcrops. During the day, it shelters in caves and crevices and among sponges . The males and females form pairs to mate, and the females have specialised structures on the ovaries, including stalk-like egg-creating lamellae and secretory cells in the epithelium. The dorsal fin spines are venomous.

Dendochirus brachypterus is used as a food fish in some subsistence fisheries. It is occasionally seen in the aquarium trade.{{cite web | url = http://www.saltcorner.com/AquariumLibrary/browsespecies.php?CritterID=1356&filter=0 | title = Dendrochirus brachypterus (Cuvier, 1829) Dwarf Lionfish, Shortfin Lionfish | author = Bob Goemans | year = 2012 | work = Saltcorner Fish Library | access-date = 2 March 2022 | publisher = Bob Goemans}} It has laid eggs in captivity, but raising the young has proved very difficult.{{cite web | url = https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/marine/miscellaneous-fish/fuzzy-dwarf-lionfish- | title = Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish Dendrochirus brachypterus | access-date = 2 March 2022 | publisher = Maidenhead Aquatics}}

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{{commons category|Dendrochirus brachypterus}}

• http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218052
• {{sealifephotos|218052}}

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brachypterus

Category:Fish described in 1829

Category:Taxa named by Georges Cuvier