GERREIDAE Gerres oblongus, FRLM 30648, 16.4 cm SL Gerres oblongus Cuvier, 1830 Slender silverbiddy D IX,10; A III,7; P1 16 - 17; LL 47 - 49; GR 5 - 7 + 7 . Body compressed, relatively elongated and slender; anterodorsal profile slightly convex. Second dorsal fin spine slightly elongated but not filamentous; pectoral fins long, reaching to anal fin origin; caudal fin long, deeply forked. Five to six scales between 5th dorsal fin spine base and lateral line. Color: body bluish silver dorsally, brilliant silver ventrally, often with irregular dark vertical bars in juveniles; anal and pelvic fins sometimes yellowish. Size: maximum length about 40 cm. Distribution: widely distributed in tropical Indo-Pacific, from eastern coast of Africa to Tonga and Fiji. Remarks: inhabits sandy or muddy bottoms and coral reefs.