Lemon Sweetlips

This species is distinguished by the following characters: chin with 6 pores, no median pit; gill rakers on first gill arch 11-14 + 1 + 16-19 = 26-34; D XII-XIII (mostly XIII),19-22, 4th or 5th spines longest; lips fleshy, moderately swollen with age; scales ctenoid (rough to touch); lateral line tubed scales about 53-60; body depth 2.5-2.8 in SL; caudal fin slightly rounded in juveniles becoming emarginate in adults. Colour of body bluish grey, juveniles with golden or rusty orange stripes along the body that break into a reticulate pattern and later form small spots that may be lost with age or remain as lines, or lines of spots on head (Ref. 47695, 90102).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19 - 22; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7

Inhabits coastal waters near reefs and weedy areas. Feeds on small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 5213).

Inhabits coastal inshore waters near sheltered reefs, lagoons, sandbanks and seagrass areas, solitarily or in groups (Ref. 47695, 90102). Adults usually on silty reefs at moderate depths, or in current channels occasionally inshore; juveniles enter estuaries and harbors (Ref. 48635). Feeds on small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 5213). Taken by handline and spear. A common species marketed fresh, a small quantity is salted, good food fish (Ref. 47695).

fisheries: commercial

分布於印度-西太平洋區，西起非洲東岸，東至菲律賓，北達日本，南迄澳洲。台灣南部、東北部、北部及澎湖海域等均見。

漁期全年皆有，可利用延繩釣、底拖網或手釣等漁法捕獲，為高經濟價值魚種，魚肉味美，可作紅燒或味噌湯。其體色鮮麗而特殊，亦常被飼養於水族箱中觀賞。

體延長而側扁，背緣隆起呈弧形，腹緣圓。頭中大，背面隆起。吻短鈍而唇厚，隨著成長而腫大。口小，端位，上頜突出於下頜；頜齒呈多行不規則細小尖錐齒。頤部具6孔，但無縱溝亦無鬚。鰓耙細短，第一鰓弓鰓耙數11-14+1+16-19。體被細小弱櫛鱗，側線完全，側線鱗數53-60。背鰭單一，中間缺刻不明顯，無前向棘，硬棘數XII-XIII(大部分為XIII)，軟條數19-22；臀鰭基底短，鰭條數III+7；尾鰭略內凹或幾近截平。頭及體側灰白色。成魚魚體呈淡灰藍色，頭部、體側、背鰭及尾鰭，散布著許多黃色的斑點；眼下之頰部鰓蓋有數道黃色縱帶，腹部為白色。

主要棲息於沿岸礁區內外活動，亦發現於海藻床或沙地，通常單獨活動，以小魚、小蝦等為主食。

Found over coral reefs in coastal areas. Feeds on small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 5213). Caught by hand-line and set net; good food fish, marketed fresh.