Chinaman Fish

Description: Head profile steep. Preorbital bone broader than eye. A deep groove between the eye and nostrils. Preopercular notch and knob absent. Mouth large extending to below middle of eye. Anterior dorsal soft rays produced into filaments in young. Pectoral fins long reaching level of anus. Scale rows on back parallel to lateral line. Juveniles whitish along lower half of the body from below eye level. Young with bright blue stripes on yellowish sides; brown back. Adults yellowish brown to reddish. Sometimes show faint vertical barring. Numerous blue lines along scale-rows that are brightest in sub-adults (Ref. 48635). Distinguished by steep snout profile and elevated dorsal and anal fins, and filaments on soft dorsal fin. Body depth 2.6-2.8 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 16; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9

Inhabits coral reefs, from shallow water to depths of at least 50 m. Occurs singly. Feeds mainly on fishes. Frequently ciguatoxic in certain areas (Ref. 55).

Adults inhabit coral reefs, from shallow water to depths of at least 50 m. They occur singly. They feed mainly on fishes. Frequently ciguatoxic in certain areas. Sold in Hong Kong live fish markets (Ref. 27253). It causes ciguatera poisoning in some areas. Banned for sale in Australia. (Ref. 90102)

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes