Animalia Life

Scatophagus argus
FAMILY
Scatophagidae
TAXONOMY
Scatophagus argus Linnaeus, 1758, India. No type specimens are known.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
Japanese: Kurohoshimanjыdai.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Body is deep and compressed, with a deeply notched dorsal fin, a pronounced forehead, and a nonprotrusible mouth. There are 10–11 spines and 16–18 soft rays in the dorsal fin, four spines and 13–15 soft rays in the anal fin, and 16 branched rays in the caudal fin. The spines are sharp and are reported to be venomous. The pelvic fins are attached by an axillary process. Body color is silvery green to orange, with numerous small dark spots on the flank and on the base of the dorsal, caudal, and anal fins. Larvae have a specialized stage similar to the tholichthys of larval butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae). Grows to about 15 in (38 cm) in length.
DISTRIBUTION
Indo-West Pacific region from Kuwait east to Vanuatu and New Caledonia, south to Australia, north to southern Japan, and east to Pohnpei (Micronesia). Also reported from Samoa and the Society Islands.
HABITAT
Inshore marine, brackish, and freshwaters, usually in turbid estuaries, harbors, back bays, mangrove stands, and reefs.
BEHAVIOR
Not well known. Occurs in small groups or aggregations.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Omnivorous, feeding on small invertebrates, including worms, crustaceans, and insects, and on benthic algae. Genus name was coined from observation of members of this genus feeding on feces and sewage discharged by ships into harbors and bays.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Not well known, except from aquarium observations. Reported to spawn demersal eggs and engage in parental care, traits inconsistent with most other species in this suborder, though somewhat similar to the Siganidae.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Collected for the aquarium trade for display in marine and freshwater aquaria. Also taken for subsistence or artisanal food fisheries and has been grown by commercial aquaculture for the live reef food fish trade.

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