No.55 Painted sweetlips

Painted sweetlips are fish belonging to the family Serranidae within the order Perciformes, inhabiting coastal areas from tropical to temperate regions. Juveniles are characterized by yellow and black stripes, growing into large fish exceeding 80 cm in length as they mature, with their body color changing to gray with black speckles. They become most active from evening into night, primarily preying on small crustaceans, mollusks, and benthic organisms.

This sample was requested by NHK Enterprises, Inc. and CT scans were conducted as a project for NHK E-television's “Gyogyotto Sakana★Star”.
Gyogyotto Sakana★Star" program HP: https://www.nhk.jp/p/ts/P58QMGP4K1/

The CT scan reveals a widely developed jaw skeleton in the head and a solid row of teeth within it, specialized for crushing hard-shelled shrimp and crabs. Along the body sides, the skeleton and muscles are densely arranged, showing a structure designed for explosive force.