Ambassis ambassis (Lacepède, 1802)

Description


Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 11. Diagnosis: Ambassis ambassis has the following combination of characters: a single supraorbital spine; rostral spine absent; preopercle ridge and rear margin serrate; interopercle edge smooth except for few small serrae at angle; 2-3 rows of cheek scales; predorsal scales 13-18; lateral line continuous (normally); lower gill rakers 19-23; pectoral-fin rays 14-15 (Ref. 50956).

Common Names


No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy


Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Ovalentaria/misc

Family: Ambassidae

Genus: Ambassis

Species: Ambassis ambassis (Lacepède, 1802)

Climate Zone


  • Subtropical
  • Location


  • Africa: Subtropical eastern South Africa to Kenya, Madagascar, Réunion and Mauritius (Ref. 50956).
  • Biology


    Tolerant of freshwater when water temperature is within 7-32°C (Ref. 7248, 79840). Tends to be more tolerant of lower temperatures in water of low salinity (2ppt) than in seawater (Ref. 7248). Feeds at night on crustaceans, fish fry and larvae and insects (Ref. 7248). Salt dried and eaten in some countries (Ref. 12484)

    Habitat


    freshwater