Sillago lutea McKay, 1985
Mud sillago
Sillago lutea
photo by Dowling, C.

Family:  Sillaginidae (Smelt-whitings)
Max. size:  16 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 60 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: India and Sri Lanka; northern Australia from Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia to the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819) and the Gulf of Carpentaria. Sillago lutea may be confused with Sillago sihama and Sillago japonica.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-22; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 21-23; Vertebrae: 33-35. Swim bladder with a median anterior extension and with or without rudimentary anteriorly directed anterolateral projections; posterior extension single. Body is light sandy brown above, pale brown to whitish below, with an ill defined silvery mid-lateral band; margins of scales may be slightly darker giving a vague meshwork pattern to the body above the lateral line; fins hyaline, the first dorsal-fin membrane tipped with a fine dusting of black; no dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin.
Biology:  Commonly associated with Penaeus merguiensis de Man in northern Australia, and occurs most abundantly on muddy or very silty substrates. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Sexually mature at 10 cm SL (ripe females 10.4-12.0 cm). This species could form the basis of a small by-catch fishery, to be exported ungutted (Ref. 6205).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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