
Rosy weedfish
Heteroclinus roseus
- Usual depth2–12 m
- Water temperature16–28 °C
- Best monthsMarch and December
- How commonRare
Photo credit: (c) Kai Squires, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist
About this species
Heteroclinus roseus, the Rosy weedfish, is a species of clinid native to the Pacific Ocean coasts around Japan, Australia and Vanuatu, where it lives in coastal belts of seaweed. This species can reach a maximum length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) TL. The Rosy Weedfish is known for being able to blend into its seagrass or coral surroundings with its pink or rosy coloration mixed with irregular dark markings.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Heteroclinus roseus”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 20 records
- February: 30 records
- March: 43 records
- April: 40 records
- May: 23 records
- June: 16 records
- July: 17 records
- August: 14 records
- September: 20 records
- October: 9 records
- November: 8 records
- December: 70 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 2–12 m · Deepest record: 13.5 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 16–28 °C
Photos

(c) Kai Squires, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY · iNaturalist
Names and classification
- English
- Rosy weedfish, Brown Weedfish, Pink Weedfish, rosy weedfish
Names in 1 more languages
- Japanese
- Beni-asahiginpo, ベニアサヒギンポ
Other scientific names: Cristiceps roseus, Petraites roseus, Petraites sellularius
Similar species
Common WeedfishHeteroclinus perspicillatus
Common WeedfishHeteroclinus heptaeolus
Johnston's WeedfishHeteroclinus johnstoni
Kuiters WeedfishHeteroclinus kuiteri
Forster's WeedfishHeteroclinus tristis
Whitelegg's WeedfishHeteroclinus whiteleggii
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 296 open-data records from 1907 to 2023.
- Species data updated November 3, 2026.
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