Teleostei (teleosts) > Ovalentaria/misc (Various families in series Ovalentaria) > Ambassidae (Asiatic glassfishes)
Etymology: Ambassis: Derived from Greek, anabasis = climbing up (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Lacepède.

Marine; brackish; freshwater; demersal; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); pH range: 7.2 - 8.2; 22°C - 28°C (Ref. 12468) preferred ?; tropical.

Indo-West Pacific: South and East Africa, including Mauritius, Réunion, Madagascar and Seychelles, to Philippines, north to India, south to northern Australia (Ref. 33390). Extends south on African coast at least to Algoa Bay, South Africa (Ref. 4318).

Max length: 16.0 cm TL male/unsexed (Ref. 4180).

Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10. Description: Depth 2.6-2.9 times in standard length; head 2.7-2.9 times in standard length; eye diameter 3.1-3.4 times in head length (Ref. 4318). Supraorbital spines 1-5, usually 3 or 4; lower edge and angle of preopercle serrate; dorsal 2/3 of vertical preopercle edge smooth; preopercle ridge completely serrate along lower limb; a large retrorse spine on preorbital just below anterior nostril; preorbital ridge smooth or serrate; interopercle smooth except for 1 or rarely 2 small spines (Ref. 4318). A row of minute teeth on vomer, palatines and tongue (Ref. 4218). Dorsal fin with 7-8 spines and 8-10 soft rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 8-10 soft rays; pectoral fin with 14-15 rays (Ref. 4318). Scales on lateral line 27-29, interrupted; predorsal scales 13-16; 2 rows of cheek scales (Ref. 4218).

Fairly common in marine and fresh waters (Ref. 4180); found in shallow waters; common in estuaries; may enter lower reaches of rivers. Can tolerate fresh water only within a narrow temperature (23-26°C). Feeds mainly at night on crustaceans, but also takes small fishes, fish eggs and larvae in estuaries (Ref. 7248). Marketed dried, salted and fresh (Ref. 97399).

Maugé, L.A. 1986 Ambassidae. p. 297-298. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels; MRAC, Tervuren; and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 4180)

  Least Concern (LC); date assessed: September 15 2020

Not Evaluated

Not Evaluated

  Harmless

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Preferred temperature (Ref. 123201): 24.2 - 29.1, mean 28.1 °C (based on 1254 cells).

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01259 (0.00746 - 0.02125), b=3.02 (2.88 - 3.16), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.9 ±0.6 se; Based on food items.

Generation time: 0.9 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median ln(3)/K based on 1 growth studies.

Resilience (Ref. 120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (k=1.20).

Fishing vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Low vulnerability (12 of 100).

Price category (Ref. 80766): Low; Very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family.

Nutrients (Ref. 124155): Calcium = 0 [0, 0] mg/100g; Iron = 0 [0, 0] mg/100g; Protein = 0 [0, 0] %; Omega3 = 0 [0, 0] g/100g; Selenium = 0 [0, 0] μg/100g; VitaminA = 0 [0, 0] μg/100g; Zinc = 0 [0, 0] mg/100g (wet weight);