Terapon Cuvier, 1816
Description
Post-temporal exposed, serrate. Extremely elongate lower opercular spine extending beyond the edge of opercular lobe. Spinous dorsal fin deeply emarginate. Front row of teeth in jaws conical. Dark stripes along body, the middle one continuous onto caudal fin; dark oblique stripes on each lobe of caudal fin.
Distribution
Mostly small fish, seldom exceeding 25 cm, common in shallow coastal waters. Euryhaline, entering brackish waters, mouths of rivers and hypersaline lagoons. Feeding predominantly on benthic invertebrates, mostly crustaceans.
Recent revision: Vari, 1978.
Species included on this CD-rom:
Terapon jarbua (Forsskål)
Terapon puta (Cuvier)