NEMIPTERIDAE


Scolopsis ciliata, 5.5 cm SL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Scolopsis ciliata
(Lacepède, 1802)
Saw-jawed Monocle Bream

D X, 9; A III, 7; P1 16-18; LLp 41-43.

Body moderately deep, 29.4-33.3% of SL. Suborbital with a large backwardly-pointed spine; small antrorse spine just below eye; external edge of maxilla denticulate; lower limb of preopercle scaled. Pelvic fin reaching to or slightly beyond anus when appressed; caudal fin forked. Color: head and body olive gray dorsally, silvery ventrally; narrow longitudinal white stripe on back. Size: 13.5 cm SL, commonly 10 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 and incidentally marketed fresh. (Koichi Shibukawa)