Previously, most authors referred to Scolopsis auratus as S. personatus. Members of the genus Scolopsis are commonly found in the Maldives.
Details
§ 01
size
Max. 21 cm
color
Body silvery-white, dusky blue on back. A broad golden-yellow line from behind eye to caudal fin. Snout dusky. A narrow pale bluish stripe joining eyes behind nostrils. Caudal fin golden-yellow.
This species typically resides in shallow waters and is commonly seen over sandy areas within reefs. Its diet consists mainly of small benthic crustaceans.
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 15 or 16 branched rays, and the body depth is 2.9-3.1 in standard length. Additionally, there are 4 rows of transverse scales between the lateral line and the first dorsal spine, a patch of scales on top of the head that is truncated anteriorly, pelvic fins that are long and reach to or just beyond the anus, and a forked caudal fin.