Pale Monocle Bream

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.

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7

Inhabits sheltered lagoons on sandy or muddy bottoms close to reefs (Ref. 3810), and coral reefs (Ref. 9137).

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).

fisheries: subsistence fisheries

分布於西太平洋區，由琉球群島至澳洲。台灣分布於南部海域。

本魚全年皆有產，可利用手釣或在礁岩外砂地放流刺網捕獲，唯因其多單獨活動，故捕獲數量通常不多。

體長橢圓形，側扁；頭端尖細，頭背幾成直線，兩眼間隔區不隆突。吻中大。眼大；眶下骨的後上角具一銳棘，下緣有細鋸齒，上緣不具前向棘。口中大，端位；頜齒細小，帶狀；鋤骨、腭骨及舌面均不具齒。第一鰓弓下枝鰓耙數7-8。體被大櫛鱗；頭部鱗域向前伸展至後鼻孔；前鰓蓋下枝骨脊具鱗；側線鱗數43-46；側線與硬背鰭基底中點間有鱗3 .5。背鰭連續而無深刻，具硬棘 X，軟條9；臀鰭硬棘III，軟條 7；腹鰭達肛門；尾鰭上下葉不呈絲狀延長。體淺灰褐色，腹面銀白色，有一黃褐色帶自眼睛直行至尾鰭基部背緣；兩眼間有一藍帶橫越，眼下另一藍色縱帶。各鰭淡黃或淡色。

通常單獨或數尾在礁岩地區或礁岩外緣之砂地上活動，游泳時以一游一停的方式前進，以礁岩或砂地上的小魚、蝦或軟體動物為主食。