Scientific Name
Velifer hypselopterus  
Pronounce  
Velifer hypselopterus草鰺
by: Lab of Fish Ecol. and Evo., BRCAS
Author Bleeker, 1879 Depth 20 - 110M
Chinese 草鰺 Poisonous Fish No 
Family_Chinese 草鰺科 Economic Fish No 
Family F201 Veliferidae Edible Fish Yes  Chinese In Mainland China 旗月魚 
Max Length 40 cm  Aquarium Fish No  Common Name 草鰺、草甘(澎湖) 
Distribution in World India Ocean to West Pacific Ocean   Distribution in Taiwan West、South、North East 
Habitats Coral、Coastal  Holotype Locality Japanese seas 
Synonyms Velifer africanus   
Reference 臺灣魚類誌(沈等, 1993);福建魚類誌(朱等, 1985);Fishes of Japan(Nakabo, 2002)  Bleeker, P. 1879 朱元鼎 編 1985 沈世傑 編 Shih-Chieh Shen ed. 1993 Nakabo T. 2002 Nakabo T. 2002 
Specimen List ASIZP0055256. ASIZP0058845. FRIP01193. FRIP21213. NMMBP06531. NTMP1214. NTMP1291. NTUM01578. NTUM04469. NTUM06470. NTUM06493. NTUM06866. NTUM06991. NTUM08654. SIO90-152d.  
Common Name Sailfin velifer 
Redlist Status NL Not in IUCN Redlist     
Characteristic Body deep, strongly compressed. Eye moderately large. Upper jaw highly protrusible; teeth absent. Anterior dorsal- and anal-fin elements retractable in a thick, scaly sheath of skin located at base of fin portions. Dorsal and anal fins long, with anterior elements moderately to conspicuously elongate; both fins shaped like large fans; total dorsal-fin rays 33 to 44; total anal-fin rays 25 to 35; anterior elements of both fins are I-II spines. Body blue-green with 5 to 7 dark vertical bars between nape and caudal peduncle; dorsal and anal fins with blue and bright yellow bands, giving the appearance of yellow spots against a blue background; a black blotch of pigment on posterior portion of dorsal fin.
habitats Rare fishes; inhabits in shallow to moderate depths down to 110 m. 
Distribution Found in southern Madagascar and also reported from India, Viet Nam and Japan. Also found in Indonesia, the Arafura Sea and northwestern Australia. It found in southwestern and northeastern Taiwanese waters. 
Utility No commercial importance.