Lined Monocle Bream (juvenile)

Scolopsis lineata is a species of threadfin breams native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

Description

Upper body is olive brown, silvery-white below. 3 yellowish white stripes are along head and body. Juveniles are white, with 3 black bands on upper half of body. There is an interspace between lower pair of yellow bands. Black spot is between first three dorsal spines.

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7. Head scales reaching forward to or just in front of level of anterior margin of eye. Lower limb of preopercle is naked. Antrorse (forward-directed) suborbital spine absent. Pelvic fins are long, reaching beyond level of anus. Max length is 25 cm, common length is 13 cm.

Distribution

Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific: throughout the southeastern Indian Ocean, including Cocos-Keeling Islands and northwestern Australia, and from the Ryukyu Islands to the Marshall Islands and Vanuatu.

Habitat

Common on coral reefs usually associated with sandy areas. Adults inhabit outer lagoon reef flats and seaward reefs flats, often in groups. Juveniles are found singly near the shelter of corals on clear shallow lagoon reefs. Adults form schools or small groups. Feeds on small fishes, crustaceans and benthic invertebrates, primarily polychaetes.