Priacanthus is a genus of marine fishes belonging to the family Priacanthidae, the bigeyes to which colloqually known fish Silk is belonging. They live in tropical marine waters on outer reef slopes and rocky areas and in lagoons at depths of 8 to 250 meters, but most commonly from 30 to 50 meters. They have large eyes and a large oblique mouth. It has a deep, compressed body which tapers, steeply towards the tail. It has a high dorsal fin with a short base and a long based anal fin, the fin bases being scaled. The body is covered in large scales which are weakly attached to the skin. In colour this is a pale to dark purplish-brown species, it can be silvery on the belly. It has 8–10 darker horizontal stripes along the flanks, and dark coloured fins. As juveniles they are mainly translucent tinged with bronze to yellowish on the back, the dorsal fin has a black leading edge, the tip of the anal fin is black and the pelvic fins are yellow and have black tips. This species attains a total length of 28 centimetres. Though comparably lower priced fish, curry value with kudampuli & fries with fresh masalas will be mouth watering one for a fish connoisseur.