SCIAENIDAE Johnius amblycephalus, 8.7 cm SL (photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin) Johnius amblycephalus (Bleeker, 1855) Bearded Croaker D XI, 23-26; A II, 7; P2 I, 5; LGR 6-9. Body moderately elongate. A stiff, blunt barbel on chin. Teeth differentiated into large and small in upper jaw, villiform teeth only in lower jaw. Second to fifth dorsal-fin spines prolonged. Scales on head and body cycloid; small scales covering softrayed portions of dorsal and anal fins. Swimbladder hammershaped, with 14 or 15 pairs of arborescent appendages along its sides, first pair entering head beyond transverse septum and sending a palmate branch to the front of pectoral arch. Color: body black or dark brown dorsally, whitish or cream yellow ventrally; prolonged spinous portion of dorsal fin black distally. Size: maximum length about 25 cm SL. Distribution: distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from Pakistan east to southern China and northeastern Australia. Remarks: occurs in shallow coastal waters and estuaries.