Bowen Snapper

This species is distinguished from all its congeners by the following set of characters: body deep and becoming compressed and less deep with growth; D XII,10, the first 2 dorsal-fin spines rudimentary (2 dorsal-fin spines on first dorsal pterygiophore); the dorsal-fin with two morpho types of configuration (Type I 'rigid type', fragile] as a rigid tapering spine and Type II ['flexible type', comparatively robust] as a flexible tapering spine in Group A - Red Sea, Group B - Gulf of Aden and eastern coast of Africa, and Group C - Persian Gulf, only Type II, is seen in both Group D - Madagascar to Sri Lanka and Group E - Eastern Indian Ocean, each Group is allopatric and is likely to have similar genetic structure (not analyzed in Group D or E). Colouration: body uniform pink with belly and lower jaw silvery, head red; spinous dorsal fin pink or red, other fins pink or pale pink; with pink tinge around eye; upper jaw often pinkish; anterior and posterior margins of the upper cheek scales nearly parallel just below rear edge of eye; orbit diameter is clearly less than suborbital depth (Ref. 124569).

Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7 - 8; Vertebrae: 24

Found in a wide range of bottoms. Young fish occur in very shallow waters of sheltered bays; larger individuals in deeper water. Feed on benthic invertebrates, mainly mollusks (Ref. 5213). Important food fish.

fisheries: commercial

分布於印度-西太平洋區，西起非洲東部、紅海，北至台灣海峽，南至澳洲北部。台灣分布於澎湖海域。

漁期全年皆有，一般利用底拖網、流刺網或延繩釣採獲，是重要的食用魚，但在台灣的產量較少。肉味細緻鮮美，適宜油煎、碳烤，味道皆不錯。

體卵圓形，側扁，背緣隆起，腹緣圓鈍。頭中大，前端甚鈍。吻鈍。口略小，端位；上頜前端具圓錐齒2對，兩側具臼齒2列，下頜齒約同於上頜齒；鋤骨、腭骨及舌面皆無齒。體被薄櫛鱗，背鰭及臀鰭基部均具鱗鞘，基底被鱗；側線完整，側線至硬棘背鰭基底之間有5.5-6.5列鱗。背鰭單一，硬棘部及軟條部間無明顯缺刻，硬棘數XII，第I及第II棘非常小，第III-V延長如絲狀；臀鰭小，與背鰭鰭條部同形，第II及第III棘約等長，軟條數8；胸鰭長，長於腹鰭；尾鰭叉形。體呈銀粉紅色，幼魚體側有數道紅色的橫帶，鰓蓋上緣具暗紅色緣。各鰭紅色。

主要棲息於沿岸及大陸棚砂泥底質的水域，棲息深度在5-150公尺間，以底棲動物，如甲殼類、軟體動物及小魚等為主食。

Inhabits a wide range of bottoms, but most common between 5 and 100 m. Young fish occur in very shallow waters of sheltered bays; larger individuals in deeper water. Feeds on benthic invertebrates, mainly molluscs (Ref. 5213). Important foodfish.