| Family: |
Pristigasteridae (Pristigasterids) |
| Max. size: |
60 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 140.0 g |
| Environment: |
pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range - 5 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Indian Ocean (Kuwait Bay and Pondicherry), Java Sea (Singapore), East China Sea (Canton north to the Koreas and southern Japan, as far as Osaka on the Pacific coast and Fukuoka in Sea of Japan, also Peter the Great Bay in Soviet waters). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 43-53. Body slender, belly with usually 24 to 25 + 10 to 15, total 34 to 42 scutes. Eye large, lower jaw projecting. Dorsal fin origin at about midpoint of body or a little behind; anal fin origin a little behind dorsal fin base. Swim bladder with a long tube passing back down right side of body above anal fin base. |
| Biology: |
Found inshore, entering estuaries and presumably able to tolerate lowered salinities; also found in semi-enclosed sea areas (Ref. 11230). A warm-water species that does not reach the northern part of its range in cool years. Used in Chinese medicine (Ref. 12166). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 February 2017 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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