PRIACANTHIDAE


Pristigenys niphonia, 21.3 cm SL
(from Okinawa I., Japan; photo by Yukio Iwatsuki)


Pristigenys niphonia
(Cuvier, 1829)
Whiteband Bigeye

D XI, 11; A III 9-10; P1 18-19; LLp 37-43.

Body deep, with large scales. Eye large. Fin spines robust; membrane of spinous portion of dorsal fin deeply incised. Color: dark red to reddish orange on head, body and fins; 4 or 5 light bars on head and body, becoming narrower with maturity; 1st bar at dorsal-fin origin, extending to bottom of opercle, 2nd beneath 5th dorsal spine extending to belly, 3rd beneath ninth dorsal spine extending to 1st anal-fin spine, and 4th and 5th at anterior and posterior caudal peduncle. Posterior margins of dorsal and anal fins, and caudal fin darker. Size: maximum length 27 cm SL. Distribution: widespread in the Indo-West Pacific, southeast Africa, Red Sea, India, Andaman Sea, western Pacific of Bali, Indonesia and Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Remarks: occurring usually in deep rocky waters (50-200 m). Taken by hook and line or rarely trawls