| Family: |
Monodactylidae (Moonyfishes or fingerfishes) |
| Max. size: |
31 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine, oceanodromous |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to False Bay, South Africa (Ref. 52193), Madagascar (Ref. 4337), and Reunion (Ref. 53568). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-30; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 25-29. Description: Body ovoid, depth 1.5-2.0 in standard length (Ref. 52193). Maxilla width 2.7-3.7 times in orbit diameter (Ref. 52193). Dorsal fin with 8 spines and 25-30 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 25-29 soft rays; pelvic fins small or absent (Ref. 52193). Scales small, 51-58 in lateral line (Ref. 52193). Colouration: Adults silvery with dusky dorsal and anal lobes (Ref. 5400, 52193). Juveniles dusky with 11-12 dark wavy vertical bars (Ref. 5400, 52193). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits coastal waters including estuaries and lagoons (Ref. 5213). Seldom enters freshwater. Juveniles can be kept in the aquarium (Ref. 4833). Caught with throw nets (Ref. 30573). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 30 June 2016 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
