Somber Sweetlips

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

Found around rocks and corals from the surf zone to a depth of 80 m (Ref. 2799). Enter estuaries and rivers in Seychelles, Madagascar and South Africa (Ref. 2135). Juveniles occur in tide pools (Ref. 9710).

Found around rocks and corals from the surf zone to a depth of 80 m (Ref. 2799). Enters estuaries and rivers in Seychelles, Madagascar and South Africa (Ref. 2135). Juveniles occur in tide pools (Ref. 9710).

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

分布於印度-西太平洋區，西起非洲東岸，東至密克羅尼西亞，北達日本南部，南迄澳洲北部。台灣南部及澎湖海域等均見。

相當美味可口的食用魚，煎食或清蒸皆食，為高經濟價值魚類。

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9-13+1+15-17。體被細小弱櫛鱗，側線完全，側線鱗數54-58。背鰭單一，中間缺刻明顯，無前向棘，硬棘數XII-XIII(少數為XIII)，軟條數18-21；臀鰭基底短，鰭條數III+7-8；尾鰭略弧形或幾近截平。體呈灰色、銀白或灰褐色，腹面淡色；鰓蓋後緣灰色；口角紅色。幼魚通常具有窄而不顯之藍線。

主要棲息於沿岸礁區、沙地及河口域等，甚至可進入淡水域，幼魚常出現於潮池。通常單獨活動，以小魚、小蝦等為主食。幼魚具有擬態落葉以欺敵之習性。

Found around rocks and corals in the surf zone (Ref. 2799). Enters estuaries and rivers in Seychelles, Madagascar and South Africa (Ref. 2135).