Sailfin Snapper Symphorichthys spilurus

Sailfin Snapper
Sailfin Snapper
The beautiful Sailfin Snapper, also called Threadfin Snapper and Blue-lined Sea Bream, is native to coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific region, mainly around Southeast Asia and northern Australasia.
Sailfin Snapper
Sailfin Snapper
Sailfin Snapper
It has wavy, pale blue lines on its lemon yellow body with a bright orange line on the forehead and "shoulders" and a large black "eyespot" before its tail to confuse predators to attack the wrong end.
Sailfin Snapper with Bluestreak Wrasse - guess who "Guess who."
Sailfin Snapper
Sailfin Snapper
The names Sailfin and Threadfin are after the trailing fibres of the dorsal fin which are modest on the adults shown but can extend beyong the fish's tail. Juveniles have particularly long threads and have a dark lateral line outlined with pale blue.
Sailfin Snapper
Sailfin Snapper
Sailfin Snapper
The fish can grow to 60 cm (2 feet) long. It is the only fish in its genus. It is usually solitary, pairing only to spawn. Diet is small fish, crustaceans and molluscs.