Monotaxis grandoculis

Osteichthyes Lethrinidae Genus Monotaxis Monotaxis grandoculis

Bigeye bream MXG

32.8 cm TL

Characteristic features:

Colour:

Greyish green, lips yellowish, usually with black spots at base of soft dorsal fin.

Size:

Up to 60 cm TL.

Important conditions and life stages:

Juveniles with 4 broad pale bars on sides.

Distribution:

Indo–West & Central Pacific, in tropical waters.

Habitat:

Coral reefs, to 100 m depth.

Biology:

Feeds primarily on gastopod molluscs, ophuroids and echinoderms but also crabs, holothurians, polycheates and tunicates.

Indonesian fisheries:

Caught with gillnets, traps, spears, and handlines.

Similar species:

Monotaxis heterodon
Redfin bream

Monotaxis heterodon differs in having red lips (vs. yellow); no black spots at base of soft dorsal fin (vs. black spots usually present) and 12½ scale rows below lateral line to anal-fin origin (vs. 13½). Juveniles have narrow pale bars on sides (vs. broad pale bars).

to Monotaxis heterodon

External links:

FishBase
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM