Dotted Bream

The Dotted Bream (Scolopsis ghanam) is a marine, reef-associated species found at depths ranging from 1 to 20 meters. The species can reach a maximum length of 30 cm, with a common length of around 12 cm. The fish is characterized by head scales extending to the middle of the eyes, a naked lower limb of the preopercle, and the absence of an antrorse suborbital spine. Its pelvic fins are notably long, extending to or slightly beyond the anus, and an axillary scale is present.

The coloration includes numerous black or dark brown spots on the sides, arranged in stripes with white interspaces. A distinctive pearly-white stripe runs from below the eye to the upper edge of the pectoral base. Dotted Bream typically inhabits benthic environments in inshore waters, often on shallow sandy bottoms near coral reefs. Its diet primarily consists of crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms, and fishes.

Geographically, the Dotted Bream is distributed throughout the 🌊 Indian Ocean, including the 🌊 Red Sea, 🌊 Persian Gulf, 🌊 Gulf of Oman, East Africa up to Delagoa Bay, 🇲🇬 Madagascar, and the Andaman Islands.