| Family: |
Elopidae (Tenpounders) |
| Max. size: |
118 cm FL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 11 kg |
| Environment: |
pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Mossel Bay in South Africa, to the Red Sea and India, possibly to western Pacific (Ref. 3968). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-27; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 14-18. Description: Body depth 12-19% of standard length; head length 21-23% of standard length (Ref. 3968). Upper jaw reaching well behind eye; upper jaw length 11-16% of standard lengt; lower jaw length 11-17% of standard length; teeth on jaws villiform (Ref. 3968, 4832). Gill rakers on upper limb 7-9, gill rakers on lower limb 13-15; depending on size, as in some juveniles some rudiments have not yet developed, but by 60 cm total length all rudiments have grown into rakers (Ref. 3968). Dorsal fin with 22-27 rays; anal fin with 15-18 rays; pectoral fin with 17-18 rays (Ref. 3968). Scales on lateral line 90-103 (Ref. 3968, 58304). Colouration: Head and body silvery; tip of dorsal fin blackish (Ref. 58304). |
| Biology: |
Occurs in coastal waters, but enters lagoons and estuaries (Ref. 4832) [actual freshwater records remain to be confirmed]. Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Young and adults feed on small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 5213). Probably spawn at sea, but the transparent larvae migrate to inshore areas and are often found in brackish water (Ref. 7050). Are voracious carnivores that take fish, squid and shrimp bait (Ref. 3968). Edible, but not tasty and full of bones (Ref. 3968). A total length of 126 cm for this species has been reported from Knysna, South Africa (G. Bernardt, pers. comm., e-mail: gerard@smallstreams.com) . |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 June 2016 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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