Pomadasys argenteus (Forsskål, 1775)
Silver grunt
Pomadasys argenteus
photo by Hermosa, Jr., G.V.

Family:  Haemulidae (Grunts), subfamily: Haemulinae
Max. size:  70 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 15 - 115 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to the Philippines (but without record from the Persian Gulf), north to southern Japan (Ref. 559), and south to northern Australia. Also reported from New Caledonia (Ref. 11889). Recently recorded from Oman (Ref. 11441) and Kuwait (Ref. 80050).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-14; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7. Body ovate; head profile almost straight. Mouth small; lips not thickened; two pores and a central groove under the chin. No antrorse spine before the dorsal fin origin; notch between the spinous and soft-rayed portion of the dorsal fin shallow. Color is generally silver-mauve to fawn above, white below. Small specimens with numerous spots aligned horizontally or fused into horizontal lines; large specimens plain or with scattered charcoal scale spots on back and upper sides; the snout is dark brown; the upper operculum charcoal or purplish.
Biology:  Found in coastal waters (Ref. 30573, 48635). Enters freshwaters (4867). Marketed fresh, may be salted (Ref. 5284).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 March 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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