Goldstriped Sweetlips

This species is distinguished by the following characters: chin with 6 pores, no median pit; gill rakers on first gill arch 9-12 + 1 + 18-21 = 28-33; D XIII,18-21, 3rd-5th spines longest; lips fleshy, moderately swollen with age; scales ctenoid (rough to touch); lateral line tubed scales about 53-58; body depth 2.7-2.8 in SL; caudal rounded or lanceolate in juveniles, becoming truncate or emarginate in adults. Colour of body and head bright blue-green to sky blue with 5 to 7 bright yellow longitudinal bands often separated by thinner yellow bands or lines of spots; fins bright yellow to orange; juveniles similar to adults, but with fewer bands (Ref. 47695, 90102).

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

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18 - 21; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7 - 8

Inhabits coral reefs (Ref. 9137).

In coastal reef slopes, inner reefs and deep lagoon (Ref. 48635). Prefers sheltered reefs and during the day either solitary or in large inactive aggregations (Ref. 34765).

分布於印度-西太平洋區，西起印尼，東至菲律賓，北至琉球，南至澳洲。台灣東部、北部及南部礁岩地區皆有分布。

為中大型食用魚，可用手釣釣獲，唯在台灣數量不多。肉多味美，適宜紅燒或煮薑絲。

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9-12+1+18-21。體被細小弱櫛鱗，側線完全，側線鱗數53-58。背鰭單一，中間缺刻不明顯，無前向棘，硬棘數XIII，軟條數18-21；臀鰭基底短，鰭條數III+7；尾鰭略內凹或幾近截平。頭部及體側鮮藍綠色至天空藍，並具有5-7條鮮黃色縱帶，但常分裂成較窄的線紋或點線紋。各鰭鮮黃至橘色。幼魚體色類似成魚，但縱帶較少。以前所記載之南洋石鱸(/Plectorhinchus celebicus/)為本種之誤鑑。

主要棲息於乾淨的礁石及珊瑚礁區海域，水深在1-25公尺左右。通常單獨行動，或成一大群。晝間躲蔽於礁石突出處，夜間出外獵食珊瑚礁區的魚蝦貝類。