Sillago asiatica McKay, 1982
Asian sillago
Sillago asiatica
photo by Shao, K.T.

Family:  Sillaginidae (Smelt-whitings)
Max. size:  15 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 50 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Taiwan to the Gulf of Thailand. This species is possibly widespread. Sillago soringa is almost certainly a senior synonym of Sillago asiatica.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-21; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 21-23; Vertebrae: 34-34. The swim bladder with three anterior extensions, the middle one projecting forward and the anterolateral ones recurved backward along the swim bladder; only single posterior extension is present. The head and body pale sandy brown to light fawn; belly is paler, almost white. An indistinct pale mid-lateral stripe is present on some specimens. The opercle and preopercle are transparent with a crescentic patch of black-brown spots in a pigmented area the shape of the gill arches on the inside of the gill cover, and showing through. The fins are hyaline; the margins of the unpaired fins finely spotted with brown; the upper and lower margin of the caudal fin dark brown to almost black.
Biology:  Occur in inshore waters. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Taken as an incidental catch with other sillaginid species (Ref. 9679).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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