NEMIPTERIDAE


Scolopsis taenioptera, 7.9 cm SL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Scolopsis taenioptera
(Cuvier, 1830)
Lattice Monocle Bream

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

Body moderately deep, 32.3-37.0% of SL. Suborbital with a large backwardlypointed spine; no antrorse spine just below eye; external edge of maxilla smooth; lower limb of preopercle naked. Pelvic fin reaching to anus when appressed; caudal fin forked or lunate. Color: head and body grayish dorsally, silvery ventrally; orange or red spot at upper part of pectoral fin base. Size: 20 cm SL, commonly 15 cm SL. Distribution: Andaman Sea and West Pacific. Remarks: found in offshore waters with sandy or muddy bottom. Carnivorous, feeds on small benthic invertebrates and fishes. Caught by trawls, and marketed fresh. (Koichi Shibukawa)