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| fishes text index | photo index |
| Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrate > fishes |
| Silver
moony Monodactylus argenteus Family Monodactylidae updated Dec 08 Where seen? Not seen on our intertidal trips, but this elegant fish is usually showcased at the Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve visitor centre's aquarium. Fishermen also sometimes seen catching them on our shores. In the wild, they may school in large numbers in open waters, under jetties and in bays. What are moonies? Silver moonies belong to Family Monodactylidae. According to FishBase: the family has 2 genera and 5 species. Found in schools in estuaries and near freshwater streams, in harbours and near jetties. Some species are inhabit brackish waters and may even swim far up into freshwater systems. Features: 4-25cm. Body flattened sideways into a rhomboid shape. Adults silvery with a yellow and dusky dorsal fin and lack pelvic fins. Juveniles have pelvic fins, are more colourful with almost all yellow dorsal fin and a narrow black bar on the head through the eye and another bar over the gill cover. Some describe the juveniles as sometimes being dark, almost black, with a red tip on the dorsal fin. It is also known as Diamond fish and Silver batfish. Being really flat, from the front, the fish looks like a stick! 'Mono' means 'one' and 'daktylos' means 'finger'. May be confused with the Batfish (Family Ephippidae). What does it eat? It feeds on plankton and detritus and are said to be highly territorial. Human uses: The fish is sometimes caught by local anglers and is considered a common and popular freshwater aquarium fish. |
 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Oct 03   Seen from the front, it resembles a stick! |
| Family
Monodactylidae recorded for Singapore from Wee Y.C. and Peter K. L. Ng. 1994. A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. in red are those listed among the threatened animals of Singapore from Ng, P. K. L. & Y. C. Wee, 1994. The Singapore Red Data Book: Threatened Plants and Animals of Singapore.
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Links
References
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Periplus Editions. 292 pp.|
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