Cheilinus Orientalis

Color of large adults red in life; body usually with 5 indistinct narrow pale bars that may contain white flecks, and 2 faint pale stripes along side; irregular bright red vertical lines on edges of scales anteriorly on midside and lower part of body, along with red dots; head with white to pale blue-green transverse lines on side of lower jaw, widest near front of chin; side of snout and head below eye with small dark-edged white to pale blue-green spots; iris orange-yellow with a blue ring, hind edge of eye black with a bright blue-green spot above (shows when eye directed forward); a blackish smudge on 2nd and 3rd lateral-line scales may be present (not related to sex); dorsal and anal fins light orange-red with oblique red lines and dark-edged white to blue lines or rows of dashes or small spots, the dorsal sometimes blackish on 1st membrane, rarely with a broad dusky border; caudal fin red with small white spots, often with an irregular blotchy white bar near base; pectoral fins with dark-edged pale yellowish rays and clear membranes; pelvic fins translucent whitish, blotched with red and flecked with white. Color of small adults light red, finely flecked with pink dorsally and white ventrally, with an orange-yellow stripe from chin to eye and along side of body to midbase of caudal fin; stripe on body broadly bordered above and below with a broad whitish band; edges of scales along midside of body with vertical red lines; two small midlateral bright red spots, one below middle of soft portion of dorsal fin and the other on base of caudal fin (Ref. 47566).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 23

Occurs among dense cover of coral rubble or algae. Feeds mainly on fishes, shrimps and other crustaceans. Known in outer reef lagoons to deep slopes with other invertebrates (Ref. 9002).

Found in coastal to outer reef habitats; juveniles often in crinoids or soft corals at moderate depths (Ref. 48636). Probably occurring deeper than normal diving depths (Ref. 35918). Reported to be associated with the mushroom Heliofungia actiniformis (Ref. 91291). Occurs among dense cover of coral rubble or algae. Feeds mainly on fishes, shrimps and other crustaceans. Known in outer reef lagoons to deep slopes with other invertebrates (Ref. 9002). Females swim in small groups (Ref. 48636). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 90102.

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: very high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

分布於西太平洋區，由摩鹿加、印尼至馬歇爾、馬里安那群島及薩摩亞，北至台灣海域等。台灣南部及小琉球海域有分布。

小型之隆頭魚，體色鮮豔，是適合水族觀賞的魚類，非食用經濟魚種。

體延長而呈梭形；頭部眼上方平直。口中大，前位，略可向前伸出；吻長，突出；鼻孔每側 2個；上下頜各具錐形齒一列，前端各有一對大犬齒；前鰓蓋骨邊緣具距齒，左右鰓膜癒合，不與峽部相逢；體被大形圓鱗。D.I X, 10；A. III, 8-1；P. 12；腹鰭短；尾鰭稍圓至楔形。幼魚體色淡茶色，體側有兩條白色縱帶，兩縱帶所夾區域或呈褐色。體呈橙紅色，腹部較淡色，並攙雜白色斑紋或斑點；眼周圍具斑點；體側背鰭第I-IV棘之下方具一約2-3個鱗片的規則黑斑；背鰭第I-II棘膜具黑斑。

主要棲息於潟湖外礁、珊瑚礁或岩礁海域，棲息深度在15-80公尺間，特別喜歡藏身於沿岸海藻繁盛的岩礁區，其多彩的體色為它帶來絕佳的保護作用，而稍突出的吻部，讓它容易翻找藏匿在海藻叢中或岩縫中的貝類、蝦蟹之類的底棲性無脊椎動物。晚上會找個岩礁下的孔洞，側臥在其中睡覺。