Lutjanus lunulatus (Park, 1797)

Tun, Myo Min, 2021, A study on some commercial fishes of Nyaw-byin coastal water, Launglone Township, Tanintharyi region, Myanmar, International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 9 (1), pp. 42-46 : 44

Lutjanus lunulatus (Park, 1797) (Fig. H)

Two parts of body that is the same in size and shape; symmetrical, typically moderately compressed, additionally head length is two-third of body length. Adipose eyes are usually moderate and snout is quite distance from eyes. Snout lacrimal and lower jaw naked. Mouth is terminal and fairly large having thick jaws; jaws usually with more or less distinct cannies; vomer and palatines usually with teeth. Opercula and scaled preopercle are moderately broad. Dorsal fin single extending towards the caudal peduncle and operculum are scaly. The first part of the dorsal has spines and latter are soft rays. Pectorals are falcate and longer than pelvic fin. Caudal fin shape is variable frequently truncate, emarginated or lunate; shaped like a crescent moon. Scales are moderate to rather small, ctenoid. Lateral line is present completely from the upper part of opercula to the caudal peduncle. Color is highly variable according to age, upper portion along trunk is dusky grayish, generally yellow with bronze to silvery sheen, a large dark patch near the posterior end of dorsal or near anterior part of peduncle.