Monodactylus argenteus
Species of fish
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Monodactylus argenteus is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Monodactylidae, the moonyfishes. Its common name includes silver moonyfish, natal moony,[2] butter bream, and diamondfish.[3] It is native to the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, including the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and associated estuaries such as the Mekong Delta.[2]
| Monodactylus argenteus | |
|---|---|
| |
| A juvenile | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acanthuriformes |
| Family: | Monodactylidae |
| Genus: | Monodactylus |
| Species: | M. argenteus |
| Binomial name | |
| Monodactylus argenteus | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Etymology
The specific epithet of this species, argenteus, is Latin for "silvery". This may be a reference to its silvery hue.
Description
This species reaches a maximum length of about 27 cm. It is of a bright shiny silver color with yellowish edges to the fins,[2] and the dorsal and anal fins have black tips.[3] Juveniles have more yellow coloration[2] and have two vertical black bands, one across the eye and the other just behind the operculum.[4]
Habitat
This species occurs in a wide variety of habitat types, including the open ocean, brackish waters, and the freshwater habitat of rivers[2] (for instance, in Australia, it can be found in harbors and estuaries around piers[3]). Its ability to survive in a wide range of salinities makes it a model organism in the study of salinity tolerance.[4][5] Juveniles are especially tolerant to salinity changes, easily maintaining homeostasis in variable environments such as estuaries.[4]
Behavior
Although this species displays territorial behavior,[2] it can be kept in saltwater aquaria and is easy to rear in captivity.[5] It can remain solitary or form schools. It is a detritivore and planktivore.
