Pellona ditchela Valenciennes, 1847
Indian pellona

Dilat Indian pellona,  Bas-an,  Buslit,  Dumpilas,  Ibis,  Kundilat,  Mamata,  Mangsi,  Matang baka,  Mu-ang,  Muang,  Silag-habato,  Tamban,  Tamban-yapad,  Tuabak,  Tuabak,  Tubak, 

Pellona ditchela
photo by Gloerfelt-Tarp, T.

 Family:  Pristigasteridae (Pristigasterids)
 Max. size:  16 cm SL (male/unsexed)
 Environment:  pelagic-neritic; depth range 10 - 55 m, anadromous
 Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Madagascar, and from Durban, South Africa to the Gulf of Oman and the coasts of India. From the Andaman Sea to Indonesia and the Philippines, southeast to the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819), northern and western Australia and Papua New Guinea.
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 34-42. Belly with usually 18 or 19 + 8 or 9, total 26 to 28 scutes, strongly keeled. Eye large, lower jaw projecting; and upper jaw with a toothed hypo-maxillary bone between hind tip of pre-maxilla and lower bulge of maxilla blade. Dorsal fin origin near midpoint of body. Scales with upper and lower vertical striae slightly overlapping each other at center of scales.
 Biology:  Occurs in coastal areas, entering mangrove areas and estuaries, and freshwater as well (e.g. in the Pangani River, Tanzania), thus apparently fully euryhaline. Marketed fresh and may be dried or salted (Ref. 5284). Regarded as an excellent bait in the tuna fishery.
 IUCN Red List Status:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:  Also Ref. 393, 7050, 12547.

 Entered by: Binohlan, Crispina B. - 17.10.90
 Modified by: Bailly, Nicolas - 16.07.13
 Checked by: Froese, Rainer - 18.03.94

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