Choerodon anchorago (Bloch 1791)

This species is distinguished by the following characters: body deep, its depth 2.4-2.7 times in standard length; dorsal profile of head convexly curved above eyes; anterior tip of head forming a broad angle with snout steeply inclined; jaws prominent; 4 strong canines situated anteriorly in each jaw with second pair in lower jaw directed laterally; an enlarged canine present on each side at rear of upper jaw; D XIII,7, continuous with spines and anterior soft rays of similar length; A III,9; pectoral fins with ii unbranched and 13-14 branched rays; pelvic fins not filamentous; caudal fin truncate to slightly rounded; lateral line continuous, smoothly curved, with 29 pored scales; scales barely reaching onto bases of dorsal and anal fins; scales in front of dorsal fin distinctly not extending forward to above eye; cheek and opercle scaly, scales on preopercle small, less than 1/4 the size of those on body; lower jaw without scales. Colour of body greenish to grey with underside of head, chest and lower portion of sides white or bluish; a wedge-shaped white band extending upward onto back behind pectoral fins; a large rectangular white saddle situated dorsally on caudal peduncle extending forward below rear of dorsal fin; head speckled with orange; pectoral-fin base covered by a large blue to black spot; dorsal fin greenish grey anteriorly and yellowish posteriorly; caudal fin greenish orange; anal fin yellow with orange markings; a narrow blue margin on dorsal and anal fins. Small individuals overall greenish grey with several whitish bars (Ref. 9823).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 12 - 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 9

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154). Adults inhabit reef flats and lagoon reefs, in areas with seagrass or mixed sand, rubble, and coral (Ref. 9710). They often form small aggregations (Ref. 8631). Juveniles occur inshore and usually form small groups in estuarine seagrass beds. Adults can be found in inner as well as outer reefs and are territorial (Ref. 48636).

Adults inhabit reef flats and lagoon reefs, in areas with seagrass or mixed sand, rubble, and coral (Ref. 9710). They often form small aggregations (Ref. 8631). Juveniles occur inshore and usually form small groups in estuarine seagrass beds. Adults can be found in inner as well as outer reefs and are territorial (Ref. 48636). Feed mainly on hard-shelled prey including crustaceans, mollusks and sea urchins. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). In Hong Kong live fish markets (Ref. 27253).

fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial

分布於印度-西太平洋區，由斯里蘭卡到法屬玻利尼維亞，北至日本琉球與台灣，南至新加勒多尼亞海域等。台灣西南部、北部較常發現。

中大型之隆頭魚，體色鮮艷，常被當作觀賞魚，亦是高級食用魚，肉質帶有膠質，很適合紅燒。以延繩釣或一支釣較容易上鉤。

體延長而呈長卵圓形，頭部背面輪廓圓凸，頭前端與吻部成一大傾斜角度。上下頜突出，前端具 4大犬齒，上頜兩側具擴大犬齒。D. XIII,7；A. III,7-9；P. 15；L.l. 29；l.tr. 3/9；背鰭連續；尾鰭稍圓形。側線連續，呈圓弧狀；頰部與鰓蓋被鱗。體黑棕至黑綠色，腹部白色；頭深棕色。胸鰭後方有一寬的黃色垂直斑；背鰭軟條後半部下方至尾柄有一矩形白色區域；胸鰭基有一大藍黑斑，胸鰭黃色；背鰭前部灰綠色，後部黃色；尾鰭黃綠色。

主要棲息於潮間帶，喜愛在淺礁與海草密布的海底森林裡活動，印度-西太平洋區的岩礁珊瑚地，都有它的蹤跡，深度範圍可達25公尺左右。通常是小群聚的活動，以有硬殼的無脊椎生物為食，如小貝、小蝦及小海膽等。

The orange-dotted tuskfish (Choerodon anchorago) is a species of wrasse native to the Indian Ocean from Sri Lanka eastward to French Polynesia in the western Pacific. Its range extends north to the Ryukyus and south to New Caledonia. It inhabits reefs at depths from 1 to 25 m (3.3–82.0 ft). This species can reach a length of 50 cm (20 in). It is commercially important, and can be found in the aquarium trade.

Along with blackspot tuskfish and a few other wrasse species, orange-dotted tuskfish have been observed taking small bivalves into the mouth and smashing them against a rock, a form of tool use by animals.