Halichoeres orientalis Randall 1999

Each lateral line scale with 2-4 tubules; without scales on cheek or opercle; without scales basally on dorsal or anal fins; a single pair of stout canines anteriorly in each jaw; a strong canine at corner of mouth; 9th dorsal spine longest, 2.75-3.1 in HL; green with 4 longitudinal salmon pink to orange bands on head, the 2nd and 3rd passing through eye, the 3rd bifurcating on opercle; a small vertically elongate black spot behind eye; upper 3 bands of head continuing as stripes anteriorly on body, and 2 more commencing from beneath pectoral fin, these stripes variously breaking into segments and forming 6 groups of irregular spots dorsally on body, the 2nd group in a dusky blotch; presumed male with this blotch black and containing small irregularly yellow spots; another presumed male phase blackish posteriorly to a vertical through base of 6th dorsal spine.

Distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 12; Vertebrae: 25

分布於西北太平洋區，包括台灣及日本。台灣分布於東北部、蘭嶼等岩礁區。

小型之隆頭魚，體色鮮豔，是適合水族觀賞的魚類，非食用經濟魚種。臺灣分布較稀少。

體延長，側扁；眼間隔稍突。口端位，稍傾斜；上頜達前鼻孔下方；齒錐狀或尖狀，上下頜各具2犬齒。頭部無鱗，頰部無鱗；背鰭與臀鰭無鞘鱗。D. IX, 12；A. III, 11-12；P. 14；L.l. 27；G.R. 16-18；背鰭棘部尖硬，後部較前部高；背鰭與臀鰭軟條後部尖形；腹鰭第一棘不延長；尾鰭圓形。體呈綠色；頭部具4條粉紅色至橘色之縱斑，第2及3條貫通眼部，第3條延伸至鰓蓋時分叉為二；眼後另具一垂直之小黑點；頭部上部之3條縱斑輿體側前部之縱帶相連績，其中2條延伸至胸鰭下方；這些縱帶延伸至體背側後部時分裂而成6個不規列的點群，第2點群雜有暗色斑駁。幼、雌魚之背鰭具眼斑。

主要棲息於珊瑚礁海域中，水深約2-30公尺左右。夜晚潛沙而眠，白天則出現在獨立礁區或沙地，捕捉有著硬殼的無脊椎動物為食。具性轉變的行為，是屬於先雌後雄型的型態。