Striped Large-eye Bream

Gnathodentex is a medium-sized fish which can grow up to a maximum length of 30 cm (12 in), however the commonly observed size is 20 cm. Its body is compressed laterally, the snout is pointed and the tail is forked. The background coloration is silver-grey with golden horizontal lines on the sides, these later are topped by dark horizontal lines. Its fins have pinkish shades, a yellow moustache-like line overcomes the upper lip, the junction of the pectoral fins to the body is marked with yellow and also along the outer edge of the operculum. A golden yellow spot located on the back at the termination of the dorsal fin is a hallmark of this species. In proportion to body size, the eyes are quite large. The dorsal fin is supported by 10 spines and 10 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 8 to 10 soft rays.

Gnathodentex aureolineatus is present in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area from the eastern coast of Africa to the Pacific Ocean's islands, Hawaii excluded. It is not found in the Red Sea or Persian Gulf. The goldspot seabream likes the proximity of reefs which slopes are external or not.

Gnathodentex combines ganthos, which means "jaw", with dentex, meaning "teeth", but which may also allude to the genus Dentex, and which is a reference to the bristle-like teeth on the upper and the lower jaw. The specific name aureolineatus means "gold-lined" and is a reference to the 4 or 5 brownish-orange stripes on the otherwise silvery whitish lower body.