Brown Headed Emperor

This species is distinguished by the following characters: body moderately deep, its depth 2.3-2.5 times in standard length; head length 0.8-1.0 times in body depth, 2.5-2.8 times in SL, dorsal profile near eye nearly straight or slightly convex; snout moderately short, its length about 1.9-2.2 times in head length, measured without the lip the snout is 0.9-1.0 times in cheek height, its dorsal profile concave, snout angle relative to upper jaw between 53° and 64°; interorbital space convex or almost flat; posterior nostril an oblong longitudinal opening, closer to orbit than anterior nostril; eye situated close to or slightly removed from dorsal profile, its length 3.3-4.6 times in HL; cheek moderately high, its height 2.1-2.7 times in HL; lateral teeth in jaws of adults molars or rounded; outer surface of maxilla usually smooth; D X,9, the 4th or 5th dorsal-fin spine the longest, its length 2.7-3.3 times in body depth; A III,8 with the 3rd, 4th or 5th soft ray usually the longest, its length much longer than length of base of soft-rayed portion of anal fin and 0.7-1 times in length of entire anal-fin base; pectoral-fin rays 13; pelvic-fin membranes between rays closest to body without dense melanophores; cheek without scales; 44-46 lateral-line scales; 4 ½ scale rows between lateral line and base of middle dorsal-fin spines; 15-17 scale rows in transverse series between origin of anal fin and lateral line; usually 15 rows in lower series of scales around caudal peduncle; 5-9 scales in supratemporal patch; inner surface of pectoral-fin base densely covered with scales; posterior angle of operculum fully scaly. Colour of head and body brown or rust red, lighter ventrally; sometimes 2 light bars on caudal peduncle; area around eye, a broad streak from eye to tip of snout, lips, and base of pectoral fins red; all fins reddish, often a bright red or orange (Ref. 114226).

Hamacreadium Infestation. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154).

Occurs over coral reefs and adjacent sandy areas. May be solitary or in small groups. Feeds on echinoderms, mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish. Caught mostly by handlines and traps. Marketed fresh. Also caught with handlines (Ref. 9775, 687103).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: very high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

分布於印度-西太平洋區，包括坦尚尼亞、莫桑比克、查歌斯群島，東至菲律賓、帛琉及加羅林群島，北至台灣海峽，南至澳洲北部。台灣主要分布於澎湖海域。

一般利用陷阱法或底拖網捕獲，全年都可以捕獲。肉質尚可，用糖醋、碳烤或者是煮味噌湯，都是料理的好方法。

體延長而呈長橢圓形。吻中短而略鈍，吻上緣與上頜間的角度為53°-64°。眼間隔凸起。眼大，位於近於頭背側，但隨著成長而漸分離。口端位；兩頜具犬齒及絨毛狀齒，後方側齒呈臼齒狀；上頜骨上緣平滑或稍呈鋸齒狀。頰部無鱗；胸鰭基部內側具鱗；側線鱗數44-46；側線上鱗列數4.5；側線下鱗列數15-17。背鰭單一，不具深刻，具硬棘X，軟條9，第IV或V棘最長；臀鰭硬棘III，軟條8，第3、4或5軟條通常最長，長於軟條部之基底長；胸鰭軟條13；尾鰭分叉，兩葉先端鈍圓型。頭及體側褐色或鏽紅色，腹面較淡；尾柄處有時具2條淡色橫帶；眼周圍、眼下斜至吻端、唇部及胸鰭基部紅色。各鰭鮮紅或橘紅色。

主要棲息於沿岸珊瑚礁或岩礁區外緣的砂泥地，主要分布的深度在2-25公尺。獨居或成小群活動，主要以軟體動物、甲殼類及小魚為食。

Occurs over coral reefs and adjacent sandy areas. May be solitary or in small groups. Feeds on echinoderms, molluscs, crustaceans, and small fish. Also caught with handlines (Ref. 9775).