MONACANTHIDAE


Monacanthus chinensis, FRLM 30619, 5.9 cm SL

Monacanthus chinensis (Osbeck, 1765)
Fanbellied leatherjacket

D II - 28 - 30; A 27 - 30; P1 12. Body very deep; dorsal profile of snout concave. Pelvic terminus prominent, composed of 3 segments of encasing scales, movable dorsoventrally; ventral flap very large. Upper caudal fin rays produced into a filament. Color: body light brown with many irregular dark brown blotches. Size: maximum 38 cm. Distribution: west coast of Malay Peninsula and tropical West Pacific from Thailand eastward to New Guinea. Remarks: occurring in sea grass bed and rocky reefs in shallow waters.