Scortum hillii (Castelnau, 1878)
Leathery grunter

Family:  Terapontidae (Grunters or tigerperches)
Max. size:  35 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,000.0 g
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish, potamodromous
Distribution:  Oceania: Endemic to Australia. Known from the northern Gulf of Carpentaria drainages, Queensland, Australia; Norman, Dawson and Fitzroy Rivers.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Adults inhabit a variety of conditions ranging from brackish estuaries to clear or turbid flowing streams and still pools. Usually in schools feeding on benthic mussels and algae (Ref. 5259, 44894). Temp. range: 12-37.5°C (Ref. 7318, 44894). Form shoals near the bottom (Ref. 44894). Spawn in summer floods (November, water temp. of 26-28°C) after nocturnal upstream migration. Eggs are guarded and fanned by the male parent (Ref. 205). Maturity: M, 25 cm SL; F, >30 cm SL; 50,000 eggs per kg; non-adhesive eggs, 2.5-4.0 mm diameter (Ref. 7317).
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 11 February 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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