Pardachirus pavoninus (Lacepède 1802)

Eyes on right side. Dorsal and anal fins separate from caudal fin; pectoral fins absent; pelvic fins unequal, the right one with an elongated base and attached posteriorly to genital papilla (Ref. 9893). Series of toxic glands along the bases of dorsal- and anal-fin rays, their pores visible (Ref. 9893). Reddish brown, densely spotted on head; body and fins of ocular surface also with spots of various sizes and shapes, bordered by a dark rim and some with a blackish spot on center (Ref. 9893).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 62 - 73; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 48 - 55

Occurs on sand and mud bottoms of lagoon and seaward reefs (Ref. 1602, 48637). Burries itself in the sand (Ref. 48637). Feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates, especially small crustaceans (Ref. 9893). Extract from sac under the skin is toxic (Ref. 559) and the mucus appears to have shark-repellent qualities.

fisheries: commercial

分布於印度-太平洋區，西起斯里蘭卡，東至東加，北至日本，南至澳洲。台灣西部、南部及澎湖海域有產。

中小型魚類，通常以以潛水捕獲，數量少，不具經濟價值。

體長卵形，極側扁；兩眼皆在體之右側，眼間隔處具鱗片。前鼻管單一短小，達下眼前緣之前。口小；腭骨無齒；前鰓蓋緣不分離；盲側具細齒帶。兩側皆具弱櫛鱗。背鰭、臀鰭鰭條均分枝，鰭膜上不被鱗，背鰭與臀鰭基部具圓孔；腹鰭不對稱，眼側腹鰭基底長，且與生殖突或臀鰭相連；無胸鰭； 尾鰭與背、臀鰭分離。眼側體呈淡黃褐色，頭部、體側及各鰭具邊緣有黑環之不規則白斑點，有的中央尚有灰黑點。盲側淡黃白色。

棲息於沿岸珊瑚礁區或潟湖砂泥底質水域。以底棲性動物為食，尤其是甲殼類。皮膚具毒性，此毒性對於驅逐鯊魚有絕對之效果。