Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Scatophagidae (Scats)
Etymology: Scatophagus: Greek, skatophagos = feeding upon dung (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; freshwater; brackish; reef-associated; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 5 m (Ref. 90102). Tropical; 20°C - 28°C (Ref. 13371), preferred ?; 32°N - 24°S, 48°E - 171°W

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Indo-Pacific: Kuwait to Fiji, north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia. Reported from Samoa (Ref. 9710), Tonga (Ref. 53797), and the Society Islands (Ref. 2847).

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ?, range 14 - ? cm
Max length : 38.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 6028); common length : 20.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3489)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-18; Anal spines: 4; Anal soft rays: 13 - 15. Ground colour greenish. Juveniles with a few large roundish blotches, about size of eye, or with about 5 or 6 broad, dark, vertical bars. In large adults, spots may be faint and restricted to dorsal part of flanks. Body quadrangular, strongly compressed. Dorsal head profile steep. Eye moderately large, its diameter somewhat smaller than snout length. Snout rounded. Mouth small, horizontal, not protractile. Teeth villiform, in several rows on jaws (ref 43044).

Inhabit harbors, natural embayments, brackish estuaries and the lower reaches of freshwater streams, frequently occurring among mangroves. Feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter (Ref. 7020, 44894, 48637). The dorsal, anal and pelvic spines are believed by Philippine fishers to be venomous and capable of inflicting wounds (Ref. 6565). Used in Chinese medicine (Ref. 12166). In Hong Kong live fish markets (Ref. 27253). Marketed as fresh (Ref. 12693).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Multiple spawner (Ref. 102820).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Allen, G.R., 1984. Scatophagidae. In W. Fischer and G. Bianchi (eds.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 51). volume 4. [var. pag.]. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 3489)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Venomous (Ref. 6565)

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; aquarium: commercial

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Scatophagus argus (Linnaeus, 1766)