Lactarius lactarius (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
False trevally
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Lactariidae (False trevallies)
Max. size:  40 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range 15 - 100 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: East Africa (Ref. 2871, 5213, 30573) to Southeast Asia, north to Japan, south to Queensland, Australia. Reported from Fiji (Ref. 12743).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-22; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 25-28. Silvery grey with blue iridescence dorsally, silvery white ventrally; upper part of gill cover with a dusky black spot; fins pale yellow. Mouth large and oblique.
Biology:  Found in coastal waters down to a depth of about 100 m (Ref. 30573) and between 15-90 m in western Indonesia (Ref. 12260). Feeds on sand-dwelling animals (Ref. 5213). Marketed fresh and dried salted.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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