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Eleotris fusca (Forster, 1801) Dusky sleeper |
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photo by
Ramani Shirantha |
| Family: | Eleotridae (Bully sleepers) | |||
| Max. size: | 26 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 5 m, amphidromous | |||
| Distribution: | Indo-West Pacific: throughout the Indo-Pacific, from east African coasts to Philippines, Melanesia and Polynesia (Ref. 6802); east African coast south to Transkei (Ref. 52193). | |||
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Diagnosis: Longitudinal line scales 57-68; preopercular spine present; 8-10 gillrakers on lower part of first branchial arch (Ref. 5493, 79840). Dark brown to black in color; horizontal lines on body; young with spotted fins (Ref. 5493). Description: Head depressed; mouth large, reaching to below middle of the eye; cheek scaled to below the eye (Ref. 52193). Dorsal fin with 7 spines and 8 soft rays; anal fin with 1 spine and 8 soft rays (Ref. 52193). Scales in lateral series 57-68 (Ref. 52193, 79840). Colouration: Dark brown to black, with a series of horizontal lines along body (Ref. 52193). |
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| Biology: | Adults inhabit lagoons, estuaries and freshwater (Ref. 6028, 48637, 79840). They occur in the lower reaches of freshwater streams, usually on mud bottoms (Ref. 44894). Juveniles are found mainly among mangrove roots in the more saline areas of lagoons and estuaries (Ref. 6028, 79840). Carnivorous (Ref. 79840). Marketed fresh (Ref. 12693). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||