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  • EnglishName: Smalltoothed jobfish
  • Local Name : Keyolhu rovvi
  • Size : Max. 40 cm
  • Family: Order : Specimen
  • Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 10 spines and 10-11 rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 8 rays. Pectoral fin with 15-16 rays. Gill rakers on the lower limb (including rudiments) 16-18. Body relatively elongate and compressed. Dorsal fin continuous and not incised at junction of spiny and soft portions. Last ray of dorsal and anal fins prolonged. Caudal fin deeply forked.
  • Colour: Blue-grey, tending to purplish above and silvery below. Operculum and preopercle edged with black. Caudal fin dusky, others pale. Variable yellow stripe sometimes seen on forehead.
  • Habitat and Biology: Inhabits coral and rocky reefs at depths between 6 and 70 m. It is solitary roving predator, which feeds principally on small coral-reef fishes, but also eats crustaceans.
  • Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
  • Remarks: There are two species of Aphareus, both of which occur in the Maldives. They can be easily separated on the basis of colour and size.