KYPHOSIDAE


Kyphosus vaigiensis
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)



Kyphosus vaigiensis, 14.0 cm SL
(from Mie Pref., Japan; photo by Seishi Kimura)


Toxotes chatareus
(Quoy and Gaimard, 1825)
Brassy Chub

D X-XI, 13-15; A III, 12-13; P1 18-20; LLp 51-55; GR 8-10 + 21-24.

Body ovate, compressed. Snout short; dorsal contour of snout steep. Mouth terminal; maxilla barely reaching to eye level; teeth incisor-like, fixed, in a single row on both jaws. Gill rakers on first gill arch usually 9 on upper limb, usually 22 or 23 on lower limb. Dorsal fin usually with XI spines, the sixth or seventh spines longest, and usually with 14 soft rays; anterior soft-rayed portion not elevated, a little shorter or as long as longest dorsal-fin spine; anal fin usually with 13 soft rays, anterior portion not elevated; pectoral fins usually with 19 soft rays; caudal fin shallowly forked with pointed lobes. Pored scales in lateral line usually 52 or 53; scales above lateral line 11-14 (usually 12 or 13); scales below lateral line 18-21 (usually 18 or 19). Color: body bluish brown dorsally, silver ventrally, with several olive brown or yellow longitudinal lines on flank; head with 2 oblique olive brown bands; dorsal and anal fins dark blue, margin of soft portion with darker band. Size: maximum length about 60 cm, commonly to 40 cm. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific, from South Africa and Red Sea to Easter Islands. Remarks: inhabits coastal areas, primarily in coral and rocky