Scientific Name
Gerres filamentosus

Common Name
Whipfin silver-biddy

Biology
Marine species that may enter lakes (Ref. 4323) and lower freshwater reaches of rivers (Ref. 12915). Adults are coastal inhabitants found on soft bottoms (Ref. 44894). Juveniles are found in brackish mangrove estuaries, sometimes enter fresh water (Ref. 2847, 44894) and tidal creeks (Ref. 44894). Inhabit shallow water over sandy substrates along the coasts and in estuaries (Ref. 12693). Feed on small crustaceans, polychaetes and forams on sand or muddy-sand bottoms (Ref. 12915), worms and insect larvae (Ref. 12693). Salted or made into fish sauce.

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1829

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Mojarras (Gerreidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: East Africa and Madagascar to Japan and Australia. Reported from New Caledonia (Ref. 26587) and Vanuatu (Ref. 13300). Enters rivers and lakes in Madagascar and the east coast of Africa.

Range

32°N - 12°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

26 °C

Water Temperature To

29 °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

50 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; amphidromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 10 - 50 m (Ref. 4372)

Trophic Level

3.26 s.e. 0.43 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

35.0 cm

Common Length

15.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (21 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.7)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated