Dotted Spinecheek, Arabian Monocle Bream

Synonymes
Sciaena ghanam - (Forsskål, 1775)
Scolopsis ocularis - (Ehrenberg, 1828)
Grammistes ghanam - (Bloch and Schneider, 1801)
Holocentrus ghanam - (Lacepede, 1802)
Scolopsides ghanam - (Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1830)

Description
Size: 19-30 cm.
Color: Back olive, three yellowish white bands, parallel with the lateral line ,on the upper part of each side, a fourth shorter band from below the eye to the base from below the eye to the base of the pectoral, which has a black spot in its axil. Most of the scales below lateral line in the anterior two thirds of the body have each a black spot at its base. A violet mark is present at the base of either lobe of the caudal fin. Numerous black or dark brown spots on sides forming stripes with white inter spaces between. Height 2.7, 3.3 in length with caudal. Head 3.3, 4 in length with caudal. Eye 3, equal to slightly convex inter orbital space and more than snout. Scales on head beginning in posterior part of inter orbital space. Mouth Somewhat oblique. Maxillary smooth, reaching to below front border of eye. Preoperculum evenly denticulate, with a notch above the angle. Suborbital spine strong and curved, followed by a few smaller spines. dorsal spines rather weak, increasing slightly in length to the fifth, which is equal to post orbital part of head. Soft dorsal slightly higher than spinous part, rounded behind. Second and third anal spines equal or the third spine somewhat longer, shorter than rays. Pectorals somewhat longer than ventrals, more than half length of snout shorter than head. Caudal forked. Head scales reaching forward to level of middle of eyes. Lower limb of preopercle naked. Antrorse (forward-directed) suborbital spine absent. Pelvic fins long, reaching to or just beyond level of anus. Axillary scale present. A pearly-white stripe from below eye to upper edge of pectoral base. Dorsal spines (total): 10-10, Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 9, Anal spines: 3, Anal soft rays: 7. Remarks: Values in above description denote proportions.