Datnioides polota (Hamilton, 1822)
photo by Jean-Francois Helias / Fishing Adventures Thailand

Family:  Lobotidae (Tripletails)
Max. size:  30 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish
Distribution:  Asia and Oceania: India to Indonesia (Ref. 12693) and New Guinea (Ref. 2847).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-9. Predorsal profile strongly concave; total gill rakers on first arch 20-23; scales large, about 40-60 in lateral series; anal fin branched rays 9; color pattern highly variable; up to 7 full vertical bars on body, sometimes with 1 to 4 partial bars between full bars (Ref. 10425).
Biology:  Lives in brackish water at the mouths of large rivers and coastal lagoons, as well as in freshwater lakes and rivers above tidal influence (Ref. 10425). Feeds on fishes, prawns, crabs and some insect larvae. Marketed fresh (Ref. 12693).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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