Eleotris melanosoma Bleeker, 1853
Broadhead sleeper
Eleotris melanosoma
photo by Shao, K.T.

Family:  Eleotridae (Bully sleepers)
Max. size:  26 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 5 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  Pacific Ocean: restricted; including Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Papua, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Is. and New Caledonia (Ref. 125668). African east coast to Transkei, South Africa (Ref. 52193).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Description: Head depressed; mouth large and reaching to below rear half of the eye; cheek scales not 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 46-56 (Ref. 52193).

Colouration: Body dark brown to black, sometimes with horizontal lines along body (Ref. 5493, 52193). Fins spotted in young, black in large individuals (Ref. 5493).

Biology:  Adults inhabit brackish estuaries and medium to large-sized rivers (Ref. 2847, 12975, 48637, 44894); also in submerged bank vegetation of freshwater streams (Ref. 41184), marshes and rice fields (Ref. 54520). Usually found on mud bottoms (Ref. 44894); sometimes penetrating into freshwaters (Ref. 52193).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 August 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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