SCATOPHAGIDAE


Scatophagus argus, 8.8 cm SL
(photo by Koichi Shibukawa)


Scatophagus argus
(Bloch, 1788)
Spotted Scat

D XI, 16-18; A IV, 14-15; P1 16.

Body quadrangular, strongly compressed. Dorsal profile of head steeply ascending to dorsal fin origin; snout rounded. Mouth small, terminal; jaws protrusible; villiform teeth in several rows on jaws. Teeth villiform, making several rows on jaws. Eye relatively large, its diameter slightly shorter than snout length. Color: ground color of head and body greenish; juveniles with a few large round blotches being almost equal to eye in size, or with 5-6 wide dark, vertical bars; adults with less distinct dark blotches or markings. Size: maximum size 35 cm. Distribution: tropical regions of Indo-West Pacific from southern India and Sri Lanka eastward to Tahiti, and northward to southern Japan.