NEMIPTERIDAE


Scolopsis monogramma, 24.0 cm SL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Scolopsis monogramma
(Cuvier, 1830)
Monogrammed Monocle Bream

D X, 9; A III, 7; P1 14-17; LLp 46-49.

Body moderately deep, 33.3-40.0% of SL. Suborbital with a large backwardly-pointed spine; no small antrorse spine just below eye; external edge of maxilla smooth; lower limb of preopercle scaled. Pelvic fin reaching to anus when appressed; caudal fin forked or lunate. Color: head and body grayish dorsally, silvery ventrally; dusky midlateral stripe on body; some sky blue streaks on head. Size: 26 cm SL, commonly 18 cm SL. Distribution: Andaman Sea and West Pacific. Remarks: found in coastal waters with sandy or muddy bottom around coral reefs. Carnivorous, feeds on small benthic invertebrates and fishes. Caught by trawls, traps or handlines, and incidentally marketed fresh. (Koichi Shibukawa)