Finspot Razorfish

Identified by the thin but distinct blue line from the front of the eye to end of mouth and large individuals by the black elongate spot at the end of the anal fin (Ref. 48636).

Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 12

Occurs on upper part of sand and mud banks, usually on reef flat areas, just before sloping down in depths from 7 m down to about 15 m. Found in spread out groups, often with X. pentadactylus in the same general area, but this species grows much larger and dominates (Ref. 48636). Dives into sand to sleep safely at night or to hide when alarmed (Ref. 90102). But the biggest males swim over large areas and move away quickly when approached by divers rather than diving into the bottom (Ref. 48636).

分布於西太平洋區，由印尼至日本海域等。台灣東北部、南部、西南部及澎湖等海域有分布。

中小型之隆頭魚，體色多彩多姿，是較適合水族觀賞的魚類。亦可食用，味道鮮美，適合煎食，海鮮店常可品嘗到。

體極側扁；背緣銳脊狀，高陡隆起；頭部眼上方圓，往下至吻部幾垂直。吻鈍；口中大，前位，略可向前伸出；上下頜各具錐形牙一行，前端各具彎形犬齒各一對。前鰓蓋邊緣具鋸齒。體被中大圓鱗；頰部被鱗片，自眼下方延伸至口緣後方。D. IX, 12；A. III, 12；P. 11-12；L.l. 20+5-6；G.R. 6-7+10-12；背鰭II、III棘間具膜相連；腹鰭第一軟條延長成絲狀，但末端僅雄魚達肛門前緣。體淡灰褐至淡褐色，眼下藍色橫紋明顯；背鰭第VI-VII棘下方體側或有黑斑(一般是沒有)，雌魚在側線與背鰭軟條間之體背部具數個小黑點；體側另於胸鰭正下方具一大型白斑，白斑周圍具黄色斑駁；背鰭淡色而具黃褐色緣，且有些許的淡黄色至橙黄色斑點；臀鰭淡色，有些許的淡黄色斜斑紋，雄魚之末稍另具數個黑斑點；尾鰭亦有多條垂直淡黄色點帶。以前所記載之黑斑虹彩鯛(/Xyrichtys melanopus/)為本種之同種異名。

主要棲息於珊瑚礁周圍砂泥地。幼魚常在沿岸近礁處游動，而成魚則喜愛在較深水域。主要以底棲軟體動物、甲殼類、小魚以及海膽等為食。有時可見其跟在鬚鯛左右，伺機撿食被鬚鯛翻攪後露出於沙泥外的底棲無脊椎動物。

Iniistius melanopus, the yellowpatch razorfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Labridae, the wrasses. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific.

This species reaches a length of 26.0 cm (10.2 in).