Bluesnout Soldierbream

This species is distinguished from all its congeners by the following set of characters: body deep and becoming compressed and slender with growth; D XII,10; the first 2 dorsal-fin spines rudimentary (2 dorsal-fin spines on first dorsal pterygiophore); third dorsal-fin spine longest (1.6-2.5, mean 2.0 in 3DFS/4DFS), third spine longer than head length and reaching beyond first soft dorsal-fin ray; orbit diameter is slightly less than suborbital depth; snout, 1st and 2nd infraorbital bones, and area around eye with blue reflections and also with bluish reflections on preopercular flange, this remains dark even in preserved specimens. Colouration: body uniform silvery red with small obliquely scattered blue spots observed from some angles, especially the dorsal body above lateral line, belly and chin are slightly silvery; all fins pale red (Ref. 124569)

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8; Vertebrae: 24

Many observed catches from southern Oman were taken by hand and line in 10-30 m and by shallow trawlers in 50-100 m. A species caught as bycatch of A. spinifer which occurs in deeper waters of the Middle East (Ref. 124569).