| Family: |
Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers) |
| Max. size: |
65 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish; marine |
| Distribution: |
Western Central Pacific: New Guinea and northern Australia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27-31; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 27-31. Snout blunt, obtusely rounded, slightly projecting in front of upper jaw; mouth small, inferior; upper jaw extending backward below hind margin of pupil, upper jaw length 31-38 % of head length, lower jaw length 34-40 % of head length, lower jaw length 34-40 % of head length. Mental pores in 3 pairs, the first close together, united by a crescent-shaped groove just behind symphysis. Teeth differentiated into large and small in upper jaw only; the; large ones closely spaced, not canine-like, forming outer series; a band of villiform teeth on lower jaw. Second anal spine long, stiff, 38-64 % of head length, progressively thicker with age and size. Lateral line scales numerous, 57-60. Swim bladder carrot-shaped, with about 18 pairs of fan-like appendages along its sides, the first pair entering head beyond transverse septum. Sagitta with a tadpole-shaped impression, the tail of which is J-shaped. |
| Biology: |
Occurs in shallow coastal waters, estuaries and in freshwater as far as 500 km upriver from the sea (Ref. 9772, 44894). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 June 2016 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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