Animal Species:Silver Grunter, Mesopristes argenteus (Cuvier, 1829)

Identification

The Silver Grunter has large eyes, a flat ventral profile and a large emarginate caudal fin. It has long dorsal and anal fin spines.

The species is silvery, often brownish-green above and white below. Juveniles are silver with four strong black stripes on the head and body. The stripes disappear with growth.

Size range

It grows to 30 cm in length.

Distribution

The species occurs throughout much of the Western Pacific, including Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

In Australia it is known from the eastern coast and rivers of Cape York Peninsula, northern Queensland.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Silver Grunter specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

Adults are found mostly in coastal waters near mangroves. Juveniles enter estuaries and freshwaters.

Feeding and Diet

It is an omnivorous species.

Classification

Species:

argenteus

Genus:

Mesopristes

Family:

Terapontidae

Class:

Actinopterygii

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

References

1. Allen, G.R. 1991. Field Guide to The Freshwater Fishes of New Guinea. Christensen Research Institute. Pub. 9. Pp. 268.
2. Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
3. Grant, E.M. 1982. Guide to Fishes. The Department of Harbours and Marine, Brisbane, Queensland. Pp. 896.

Last Updated: 22 September 2012

Tags fish, ichthyology, silver grunter, Mesopristes argenteus, silver, brownish-green, pale underside, coastal water, mangroves, omnivorous, flat profile, juveniles have stripes, 10 cm - 1 m, juveniles in estuaries and freshwater, large eye,