Blackstreak Bream

The Blackstreak Bream (Scolopsis taeniata) is a tropical marine species that inhabits reef environments at depths ranging from 20 to 50 meters. It can reach a maximum length of 36 cm, with a common length of approximately 20 cm.

The species is characterized by head scales that extend forward to or just in front of the anterior margin of the eyes, and the lower limb of the preopercle is scaly. Notably, it lacks an antrorse suborbital spine, and its pelvic fins are long, extending to the level of the anus. The species does not have an axillary scale. In terms of appearance, the upper body is greenish-olive, transitioning to whitish below, with a narrow whitish stripe along the base of the dorsal fin. A distinctive black or dark brown streak runs above the lateral line, starting below the third or fourth dorsal spine and ending at the caudal peduncle. Additionally, a bright blue stripe extends from the eye to the upper jaw and from the posterior edge of the eye to the base of the pectoral fin, culminating in a blue spot.

Geographically, the Blackstreak Bream is found in the western 🌊 Indian Ocean, including the 🌊 Red Sea, 🌊 Gulf of Aden, 🌊 Gulf of Oman, 🌊 Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and around 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka in the Gulf of Mannar. It has occasionally been misidentified as Scolopsis vosmeri or Scolopsis frenatus by some authors.