Western Pacific: including the South China Sea, Strait of Malacca, southern coasts of Sumatra and Java, northern Australia, and the Gulf of Papua, to the Solomon Islands. This species has previously been confused with Nemipterus mesoprion. Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions
Short description
Dorsalspines
(total): 10;
Dorsalsoft rays
(total): 9;
Analspines: 3;
Analsoft rays: 7. Lower edge of eye lies above a line from tip of snout to upper base of pectoral fin; suborbital with straight lower margin and rounded posterior margin. Dorsal fin origin about 2-5 scale rows from imaginary line projected upwards from posterior edge of suborbital to dorsal profile. Caudal fin with the upper lobe produced into a short, reddish filament. In life, head with oblique yellow stripe from beneath eye to middle of upper jaw and another from anterior of eye to near tip of snout. Axillary scale present. Color: Upper body rosy, silvery below.
Found on sand or mud bottoms. Occurs in groups and feeds on small bottom-living animals. Regarded as a trash fish and used mainly for fish meal or animal feed.
