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  • EnglishName: Brown-spotted sandperch
  • Local Name : Mushi thiki alathandu
  • Size : Max. 20 cm
  • Family: PINGUIPEDIDAE
  • Order : Perciformes
  • Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 4 spines and 21 rays. Anal fin with 1 spine and 17 rays. Pectoral rays with 17 rays. 4 canines at front of lower jaw. Palatine teeth absent. Second and third dorsal spine longest.
  • Colour: Body whitish with 4 close-set longitudinal series of brown spots, those of lower row largest and vertically elongate, covering all of lower side. A white spot midposteriorly in caudal fin. Males with thin diagonal pale lines on cheek.
  • Habitat and Biology: Usually found on patches of rubble or pavement between corals. Feeds on benthic crustaceans and occasionally on fish.
  • Distribution: Maldives to Central Pacific.
  • Remarks: Parapercis millepunctata is the most common species of the genus at many localities. It is usually
    identified as P. cephalopunctata (Seale) but P. millepunctata is the valid earlier name.