Dwarf Lionfish, Neochirus brachypterus (Cuvier 1829)

Other Names: Shortfin Turkeyfish, Short-spined Butterfly-cod, Short-spined Scorpionfish

A Dwarf Lionfish, Dendrochirus brachypterus, in Port Stephens, New South Wales, July 2012. Source: Ian Shaw / iNaturalist.org. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial

Summary:

A dusky mottled brown to reddish-brown with darker bars on the body, distinct bands on the pectoral fins, a short tentacle above the eye and variably-developed leafy appendages on the head and along the lateral line. The pectoral-fin rays lack filaments.
This species was previously known as Dendrochirus brachypterus.

The Dwarf Lionfish has 13 venomous dorsal-fin spines along the back that may cause a very painful wound.
Video of a yellow form of the Dwarf Lionfish in Lembeh Straits, Indonesia.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2025, Neochirus brachypterus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 01 Apr 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3209

Dwarf Lionfish, Neochirus brachypterus (Cuvier 1829)

More Info

Distribution	Houtman Abrolhos, Western Australia, to Sydney, New South Wales; also Lord Howe Island, Tasman Sea. Shelters in caves, crevices, under ledges or amongst sponges during the day.
Feeding	Nocturnal predator - feeds mostly on small crabs and other crustaceans.
Etymology	The specific name is from the Latin brachys (= short) and pterus (= fin), in reference to the shorter pectoral fins of this species compared with those of D. zebra, its presumed congener at the time.
Species Citation	Pterois brachyptera Cuvier, 1829, Histoire Naturelle des Poissons 4: 368. Type locality unknown.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2025
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Dwarf Lionfish, Neochirus brachypterus (Cuvier 1829)

References

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