Parapercis cylindrica (Bloch 1792)

This species is distinguished by the following characters: D V,21; A I,17; 14-16 (rarely 14 or 16) pectoral rays; 44-50 lateral-line scales; 2-3 + 6-8 gill rakers; 5-6 predorsal scales; ctenoid scales on cheek, 7-8 horizontal rows; 10 canine teeth at front of lower jaw, most posterior large and recurved; vomer teeth in a semicircular patch; with palatine teeth; a prominent sharp spine at upper edge of subopercle; posterior edge of preopercle usually irregular to finely serrate while edge of subopercle and upper edge of interopercle sometimes finely serrate, especially in large adults; body depth 4.0-4.35 in SL (23.0-25.0% SL); middle dorsal spine longest, 8.7-10.2% SL; membrane from last dorsal spine joined near base of first soft ray; caudal fin slightly rounded, 20.3-22.8% SL. Best recognized by the series of 10 quadrangular dark brown blotches along its back, progressively shorter posteriorly, each with a darker brown spot at upper corners that merge with small black spots at base of dorsal rays; the first five blotches are joined basally by a wavy dark brown stripe, its upper parts touching lateral line; ten dark brown bars on lower part of body, broadest in the middle, linked in the broad upper part by two horizontal series of dark brown blotches; narrow upper end of each dark bar joining corresponding lower part of above-mentioned wavy stripe, thus isolating a series of ten large roundish pale spots which may contain dark brown blotches or small dark spots; a narrow dark brown bar below middle of eye, sometimes a second less distinct one below front of eye; a dark line from upper lip to eye; a median brown band on upper lip, edged in dark brown; a large black spot basally on dorsal fin between spines; II and V; caudal fin usually yellow or yellowish with numerous very small black spots, a narrow white posterior margin and black submarginal line; males usually with a dark spot of side of upper lip (one female found with one) (Ref. 57562).

Dorsal spines (total): 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 17

Found in sheltered bays, harbors and lagoons, but mainly clear water habitats (Ref. 48636). Occurs on sand, rubble, seagrass, or weedy bottoms near shallow reefs (Ref. 42740, 48636). Common in seagrass beds (Ref. 9710). Feeds on benthic invertebrates, microalgae, and fish (Ref. 11889).

Found in sheltered bays, harbors and lagoons, but mainly clear water habitats (Ref. 48636). Occurs on sand, rubble, seagrass, or weedy bottoms near shallow reefs (Ref. 42740, 48636). Common in seagrass beds (Ref. 9710). Also Ref. 58652.

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums; price category: unknown; price reliability:

分布於西太平洋區，北至日本南部，南至澳洲新南威爾斯，東至斐濟與馬紹爾群島。台灣分布於南部及澎湖海域。

中小型魚，可食用，唯魚體大小不一，亦常作下雜魚處理。一般均以底拖網捕獲，一支釣亦可釣獲。全年有產，但以夏季較盛。

體延長，近似圓柱狀，尾部略側扁；頭稍小而似尖錐形。吻尖而平扁。眼中大，上側位，稍突出於頭背緣。口中大，略傾斜；上頜略短於下頜；頜齒呈絨毛狀齒帶，外側列較大，下頜前端具犬齒10枚；鋤骨具齒，腭骨有齒。體被細鱗，側線簡單而完全；側線鱗數48-52。背鰭連續，硬棘部與軟條部間具深缺刻，具硬棘V，軟條21-22；臀鰭硬棘I，軟條17；胸鰭軟條14-16；尾鰭圓形。體背黃褐色，腹面灰白色；體側具9-10條暗色的梭形橫帶，且延伸至腹部，並於腹面中線與另一側之橫帶相連；頭側具2條黑褐色斜帶；頤部前方有一暗斑；上唇則有2個具褐緣之淡斑延伸至眼前緣。背鰭硬棘部灰黃色，第II至V棘間具黑斑；各鰭淺灰色，或淡色，皆具黑色小點。

主要棲息於掩蔽的海灣、港灣及潟湖區內清澈的水域。一般活動於淺水區且底質為沙子、碎石或海草叢生的底部，亦常見於海草床。以魚類及底棲甲殼類動物為食物。

Parapercis cylindrica, the cylindrical sandperch, is a species of sandperch belonging to the family Pinguipedidae.

Inhabits lagoon with sand and rubble bottoms (Ref. 1602). Usually found around shallow silty reefs (Ref. 2334).