Cá Bàng Chài Đuôi Vàng

Diagnosis (modified after Randall 1972): Lateral-line scales 27; gill rakers 18 – 25; mid-dorsal region of nape naked or with small deeply embedded scales continuous across the dorsal part of nape (more apparent in dried specimens); body relatively elongate, the depth 2.3 – 3.2 in SL; body width 2.2 – 2.7 in depth; head length 2.6 – 3.1 in SL; snout 2.3 – 2.7 in head length; eye 2.6 – 3.7 in snout; dorsal spines flexible; caudal fin truncate to slightly rounded; pectoral fins 1.6 – 1.9 in head length; pelvic fins 2.1 – 2.5 in head length. Maximum size of IP specimens, 238 mm SL (Myers (1991), and TP, 358 mm SL (Randall 1972). Colour of IP (Fig. 1 A, B): body brown to orange-brown, with a dark edged pale blue spot on each scale; head reddish-brown to orange-brown, with dark-edged narrow blue bands; dorsal fin brown to brownish-red with small dark-edged blue spots, a narrow blue margin and black submarginal line; anal fin brownish-red to red with 2 or 3 rows of small dark-edged blue spots, a narrow blue margin, and black submarginal line; caudal peduncle with reddish hue on upper and lower margins; caudal fin brown to reddish-brown with small dark-edged blue spots and blue margins; a dusky orange-red bar, edged in blue at pectoral base, the upper portion blackish.