Breams (Monocle)
Overview
Members of the Nemipteridae family are found mainly in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific. They are distinguished by having a single continuous dorsal fin, with 10 spines and 9 soft rays, and anal fin with 3 spines and 7 to 8 soft rays. Their colours are extremely variable, but often pinkish or reddish with red, yellow or blue markings.Nemipterids are carnivorous bottom-living fishes feeding mainly on other small fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans, and polychaetes. They can be solitary or schooling and do not appear to be territorial.
Worldwide, there are 5 genera and about 66 species. The 5 genera are Nemipterus (Threadfin Breams), Parascolopsis (Dwarf Monocle Breams), Pentapodus (Whiptails), Scaevius (Coral Breams) and Scolopsis (Monocle Breams).
Monocle Breams or Scolopsis are distinguished from other nemipterids by a large backwardly pointing spine and a series of smaller spines at the suborbital beneath the eye.
Common Monocle Breams Species
Scientific Name: Scolopsis ciliata (Lacepède, 1802)
English Name: Saw-jawed Monocle Bream, Whitestreak Monocle Bream
Japanese Name | 和名: ハクセンタマガシラ (Hakusentamagashira)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Pasir-pasir Garis Atas Putih, Ikan Pasir, Ikan Batu, Ikan Bulat, Mempasir, Mentimun, Puyu Laut, Pijat-pijat
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาทรายขาวหลังแถบ (Plā thrāy k̄hāw h̄lạng t̄hæb)
Local Hokkien: Tua Bak Kor
Main Identification Features: Maxilla denticulate on its external edge. A silvery-white stripe on the back beneath the dorsal fin. A row of mid lateral golden yellow spots on the sides, from behind the pectoral fin tip. Upper and lower edges of the caudal fins reddish.
Size: Maximum standard length 13.5 cm, commonly to 10 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal waters, sandy bottoms close to coral reefs from 2 to 25 m depth. Often occurs in small groups. Feeds on benthic invertebrates and small fishes.
Scientific Name: Scolopsis monogramma (Cuvier, 1830)
English Name: Rainbow Monocle Bream, Monogrammed Monocle Bream
French Name: Scolopsis masqué
Japanese Name | 和名: ヒトスジタマガシラ (Hitosujitamagashira)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Pasir-pasir Jalur Gelap, Ikan Pasir, Ikan Batu, Ikan Bulat, Mempasir, Mentimun, Puyu Laut, Pijat-pijat
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาทรายขาวหางเหลือง (Plā thrāyk̄hāw h̄āng h̄elụ̄xng)
Local Hokkien: Tua Bak Kor
Main Identification Features: Head scales reaching to between anterior margin of eyes and posterior nostrils. A blue chevron-shaped stripe running upwards from below eye onto opercle and bending downward towards pectoral-fin base. 3 bluish stripes on snout with the uppermost joining eyes above nostrils, the middle stripe joining eyes through nostrils and lower stripe from eye to tip of snout.
Size: Maximum standard length 26 cm, common standard length 18 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Sand bottoms, to 50 m depth. Occurs solitary or in small groups. Feeds on small fishes, crustaceans, molluscs, and worms.
Scientific Name: Scolopsis taenioptera (Cuvier, 1830)
English Name: Latice Monocle Bream
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 红哥里 (Hóng gē lǐ)
Japanese Name | 和名: メガネタマガシラ (Meganetamagashira)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Pasir-pasir Mentimun, Kerisi Pasir, Ikan Pasir, Ikan Batu, Ikan Bulat, Mempasir, Mentimun, Puyu Laut, Pijat-pijat
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาทรายขาวจุดแดง (Plā thrāyk̄hāw cud dæng)
Local Hokkien: Ang Goh Li
Local Teochew: Ang Nee
Main Identification Features: A reddish-orange spot present on the upper part of pectoral fin base.
Size: Maximum standard length 30.0 cm, common standard length 15.0 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Sand and mud bottoms, to 25 m depth. Occurs in small groups. Feeds on small fishes, crustaceans, and molluscs.
Scientific Name: Scolopsis vosmeri (Bloch, 1792)
English Name: Whitecheek Monocle Bream
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 白头库 (Bái tóu kù)
Japanese Name | 和名: タイワンタマガシラ (Taiwantamagashira)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Pasir-pasir Pipi Putih, Ikan Pasir, Ikan Batu, Ikan Bulat, Mempasir, Mentimun, Puyu Laut, Pijat-pijat
Bahasa Indonesia: Ikan Coklatan Pipi Putih
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาทรายขาวน้ำตาลคอขาว (Plā thrāyk̄hāw n̂ảtāl khx k̄hāw)
Local Hokkien: Peh Tao Kor, Thik Kak Chia
Main Identification Features: A broad white vertical bar from top of head onto opercle.
Size: Maximum total length 25.0 cm, common standard length 15.0 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Sand and mud bottoms near reefs, 10 to 60 m depth. Occurs solitary, but may school deep. Feeds on benthic organisms.
