Taiwan Fish Database

Body rather elongate. Mid-dorsal line more or less sharply keeled on scales anterior to first dorsal fin. Head deeper than wide, only weakly convex interorbitally. Snout shorter than or equal to eye diameter and slightly pointed. Upper lip thin or slightly thickened; outer row of close-set, fine, recurved, unicuspid teeth; inner row of smaller teeth. Lower lip thin, directed forwards, no teeth present. Vomer edentate. Adipose eyefold relatively well developed, covering about 1 and 2 of iris. Gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch 43 to 60, shorter than longest gill filaments. Origin of first dorsal fin nearer tip of snout than base of caudal fin; anal fin with III spines and 9 soft rays; caudal fin emarginate. Scales weakly ctenoid on flanks, strongly ctenoid ventrally; 35 to 40 scales in longitudinal series, 11 to 13 in transverse series; 7 to 10 scales in longitudinal series anterior to tip of pectoral fins and 23 or 24 anterior to origin of second dorsal fin; 17 to 20 in transverse series entirely around caudal peduncle. Body bluish or greenish dark dorsally, silver laterally and ventrally; several longitudinal dark stripes along scale rows on middle part of trunk; upper part of iris orange; dorsal fins darkish; caudal fin with broad, dark margin and dark at origin, but pale inmiddle part; anal fin partially darkish.

habitats

Inhabits inlet waters and estuaries of rivers.

Distribution

Japan (except northern Hokkaido) through the Ryukyu Islands and Taiwan, and coasts from Shanghai to Peihar and Hainan Island. It is a common species in Taiwan except eastern part.

Utility

Marketed fresh.