Lantern Belly

Body shape and color similar to M. wakiyai and M. griseus, but differs by having a more slender body, 7 soft rays in the anal fin, and a hollow 1st pterygiophore of anal fin (Ref. 559). First proximal radials hollow (Ref. 40964).

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 10 - 15

Occurs in the continental slope (Ref. 7300).

分布於印度-西太平洋區，包括東印度洋、日本、臺灣、東中國海、阿拉夫拉海及澳洲北部。臺灣發現於東北部及東沙海域。

可利用底拖網捕獲。一般皆當下雜魚利用。

體長橢圓形而側扁；體高小於標準體長之1/3。頭大，頭後部稍突起。眼大。吻短。口大，斜裂，下頜稍突出，下頜縫合處具棘狀突起；上頜末端及眼中部；上下頜、腭骨、鋤骨則具絨毛狀齒。前鰓蓋骨後緣平滑，下緣具細齒；鰓蓋骨無棘。體被弱櫛鱗，鱗大易脫落；側線鱗數48-51。背鰭單一，具深缺刻，具硬棘X，軟條9-10；臀鰭與背鰭軟條部相對，基底小於或等於最長之鰭條長，具鰭條III+7；腹鰭略小，具鰭條I+5；胸鰭長而低位；尾鰭深叉形。體背側黃褐色，腹側銀白色。胸及尾鰭黃褐色；餘鰭淡色至灰黑色。

主要棲息於大陸棚斜坡，深度約在200-600公尺間。肉食性。

Malakichthys elegans, the splendid sea bass, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acropomatidae. This fish is found in the Indo-Pacific region.