Scientific Name
Sillago ciliata

Common Name
Sand sillago

Biology
An onshore schooling species occurring on coastal beaches, sandbars, and surf zones as well as open bays, estuaries, coastal lakes (Ref. 6205), and rivers as far as tidal limits (Ref. 6390). Keep away from shore when older. Live almost exclusively on sandy ground. Juveniles and adolescents are abundant in shallow waters of rivers and creeks, over seagrass beds and in mangroves (Ref. 6223), although they tend to move into deeper water as they grow older (Ref. 6390). Larvae are present in river mouths and mangrove areas most of the year (Ref. 27634). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Feed mostly on polychaetes and crustaceans. Also caught using tunnel nets (Ref. 6205).

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1829

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Smelt-whitings (Sillaginidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Pacific

Distribution

Western Pacific: east coast of Australia from Cape York (rare) and the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland to eastern Victoria, Ulverstone on northeast coast of Tasmania; Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia, Woodlark Islands, and Papua New Guinea. Bleeker's records (Ref. 1502, 1843) from Batavia and Java were in error (Ref. 4899).

Range

9°S - 45°S, 142°E - 170°E

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

46 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; brackish; demersal; non-migratory; depth range ? - 46 m (Ref. 6335), usually 20 - 22 m

Trophic Level

3.15 s.e. 0.35 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

51.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown 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: highly commercial; aquaculture: experimental; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (25 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.39; tm=2-3; tmax=22; Fec=31,000)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated