Barred soapfish

Characteristics

Mostly observed singly, and occasionally in small groups. Feeds mainly on fishes. When stressed or harassed, may secrete a slimy skin toxin, grammistin,. Experiment showed that when confined in small volume of water, this toxin can be lethal to other fish species. (*note) *Note: One D. bifasciatum, 158 mm in standard length, was agitated in 800 ml of seawater for 5 minutes. Five adults of Japanese rice fish, Oryzias latipes, were then placed in this water. They showed immediate motor excitation and died within 15 minutes. Although a fresh- water species, O. latipes, can ordinarily survive in seawater for at least a day.

Description

• Body colouration pale to bright yellow.
• Two prominent dark brown to blackish vertical bars on sides, one through eye and a broader one across middle of the body.
• Postflexion larval body yellow with long, remarkable elongate dorsal filaments (the second and third dorsal fin spines), reaching lengths longer than the body. No dark bars.