Scolopsis affinis Peters, 1877
Peters' monocle bream
Scolopsis affinis
photo by Greenfield, J.

Family:  Nemipteridae (Threadfin breams, Whiptail breams)
Max. size:  24 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 60 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Andaman Sea in the eastern Indian Ocean to Indonesia, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to northeastern Australia and the Solomon Islands. This species has been incorrectly referred to as Scolopsis personatus (a junior synonym of Scolopsis auratus) by some authors.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7. Lower limb of preopercle scaly. Antrorse (forward-directed) suborbital spine absent. Pelvic fins long, reaching to or beyond level of anus. Larger specimens with upper and lower lobes falcate. Presence of indistinct bluish stripe between eyes and a narrow white stripe from middle of upper lip to below eye. Juveniles with dusky brown stripe on either side of dorsal midline, and dusky brown midlateral stripe, yellowish above anteriorly. Axillary scale present. Color: Body silvery-white. Top of head and snout dusky grey. An indistinct bluish stripe between eyes. A narrow white stripe from middle of upper lip to below eye.
Biology:  Inhabits sheltered lagoons on sandy or muddy bottoms close to reefs. Occurs singly or in small aggregations. Adults mainly in depths over 15 m; juveniles solitary and in sheltered coastal habitats (Ref. 48635).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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