Sufflamen fraenatum (Latreille 1804)

Juveniles sand-colored with numerous thin black pinstripes (Ref. 1602); adult males with an oblique yellow band from the corner of mouth backward and another under the chin (Ref. 4420).Description: Characterized further by having longitudinal scale rows 43-54; presence of deep groove in front of eye; nearly straight dorsal and ventral head profiles; body with series of longitudinal ridges bearing small spiny tubercles, ridges extending forward to front of second dorsal fin; rounded caudal fin in juvenile, truncate to slightly double emarginate in adult (Ref. 90102).

Distinct pairing (Ref. 205). Females are territorial, solely tending and guarding the eggs (Ref. 116451). Males exhibit polygyny (Ref. 116451).

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 3; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27 - 31; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 24 - 28

Inhabit coastal rocky reefs, often silty habitats and in lagoons on open sand (Ref. 48637). Solitary (Ref. 90102). Found over sand and rubble patches of seaward reefs (Ref. 205). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feed on echinoids, fishes, mollusks, tunicates, crustaceans, algae, polychaete worms, foraminiferans and detritus. Oviparous (Ref. 205).

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family