Scolopsis lineata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824
Striped monocle bream
Scolopsis lineata
photo by Cook, D.C.

Family:  Nemipteridae (Threadfin breams, Whiptail breams)
Max. size:  25 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 20 m
Distribution:  Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific: throughout the southeastern Indian Ocean, including Cocos-Keeling Islands and northwestern Australia, and from the Ryukyu Islands to the Marshall Islands and Vanuatu. Record from the Andaman Islands is unconfirmed. Referred to as Scolopsis cancellatus by most authors.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7. Head scales reaching forward to or just in front of level of anterior margin of eye. Lower limb of preopercle naked. Antrorse (forward-directed) suborbital spine absent. Pelvic fins long, reaching beyond level of anus. Color: Upper body olive brown, silvery-white below. 3 yellowish white stripes along head and body. Juveniles white, with 3 black bands on upper half of body, interspace between lower pair of yellow bands; black spot between first three dorsal spines.
Biology:  Common on coral reefs usually associated with sandy areas. Adults inhabit outer lagoon reef flats and seaward reefs flats, often in groups. Juveniles are found singly near the shelter of corals on clear shallow lagoon reefs (Ref. 9710). Adults form schools or small groups (Ref. 48635). Feeds on small fishes, crustaceans (Ref. 9710) and benthic invertebrates, primarily polychaetes (Ref. 37816).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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