Nemipterus zysron appears to be rather uncommon in the Maldives, and has been previously treated under the name N. metopias by most authors.
Details
§ 01
size
Max. 18.5 cm
color
Upper part of body reddish, silvery below. Dorsal fin yellow with a bright yellow margin. Anal fin pale lilac with a series of elongated yellow spots. Caudal fin pinkish, lobes pale yellow.
order
Perciformes
family
Nemipteridae
image url
https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/nemipterus.png
habitat and biology
This species inhabits sandy areas close to rocks in depths ranging from 10 to 125 m and swims in groups. Its diet consists of benthic organisms.
distinctive characters
The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 9 rays, the anal fin has 3 spines and 7 rays, the pectoral fin has 2 unbranched and 13-16 branched rays, and the body is elongated with a depth of 3.8-4.6 in standard length. The lower margin of the eye is tangential to or just above a line from the tip of the snout to the upper base of the pectoral fin, and the pectoral and pelvic fins are short and do not reach the anus. The caudal fin is forked with a prolonged upper lobe.