Ornate Emperor

This species is distinguished by the following characters: body relatively deep, its depth 2.3-2.6 times in standard length. Head length 0.8-0.9 times in body depth, 2.7-3 times in SL, dorsal profile near eye convex; snout length about 2-2.5 times in HL, measured without the lip the snout is 0.9-1.1 times in cheek height, its dorsal profile nearly straight or slightly concave, snout angle relative to upper jaw between 65° and 75°; interorbital space convex; posterior nostril a longitudinal oblong opening, closer to orbit than anterior nostril; eye situated close to dorsal profile, its length 3.3-4.1 times in HL; cheek height 2.2-2.8 times in HL; lateral teeth in jaws rounded with points or molars; outer surface of maxilla usually smooth, sometimes with a longitudinal ridge. D X,9 with the 4th or 5th dorsal-fin spine the longest, its length 2.7-3.3 times in body depth; A III,8 with the first soft ray usually the longest, its length longer than length of base of soft-rayed portion of anal fin and 1.1-1.5 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; 46-47 lateral-line scales; 5 ½ scale rows between lateral line and base of middle dorsal-fin spines; 15-16 scale rows in transverse series between origin of anal fin and lateral line; 13-15 rows in lower series of scales around caudal peduncle; usually 3-8 scales in supratemporal patch; inner surface of pectoral-fin base densely covered with scales; posterior angle of operculum fully scaly. Colour of body dusky whitish, lighter below, with 5-6 orange stripes; posterior edge of opercle and preopercle bright red (the former more conspicuous); head brown or tan, sometimes a red spot on lower front edge of eye; pectoral fins orangish; pelvic and anal fins, and most of dorsal fin whitish; edge of dorsal and caudal fins reddish (Ref. 114226).

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

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154).

Inhabits sandy and soft bottoms and seagrass beds in inshore bays, lagoons and areas adjacent to reefs. Usually in small groups (Ref. 48635). Feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, polychaetes and small fishes. Juveniles commonly visit the tidal reef flats to feed when the water is high (Ref. 48635). Caught by trap, handline, shore seine, trawl, and handline. Minor importance in fisheries where it occurs (Ref. 68703).

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，西起馬爾地夫，東至巴布紐新幾內亞，北至日本南部，南至澳洲北部。台灣分布於南部、西部及東部海域。

漁期全年都有，可利用圍網、底拖網、延繩釣、手釣或礁外之砂地上放置流刺網捕獲，肉質稍粗，可作紅燒或煮味噌湯。

體延長而呈長橢圓形。吻短而鈍，吻上緣與上頜間的角度為64°-73°。眼間隔凸起。眼大，位於近於頭背側。口端位；兩頜具犬齒及絨毛狀齒，後方側齒呈圓形而有犬齒尖或臼齒但呈塊狀；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46-47；側線上鱗列數5.5；側線下鱗列數16-17。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1軟條通常最長，但等於或短於軟條部之基底長；胸鰭軟條13；尾鰭分叉，兩葉先端尖型。體呈淺黃褐色，體側有5-6條黃色或橙色縱帶；鰓蓋緣及眼緣上下有少許紅色斑。背、尾鰭呈朱紅色；胸、腹及臀鰭黃色。

主要棲息於瀉湖、內灣、珊瑚礁區或海草床，或其外緣砂地上巡游，以砂地上之甲殼類、軟體、棘皮動物、多毛類或小魚等動物為食。