Scientific Name
Sillago maculata

Common Name
Trumpeter sillago

Biology
Occur on silty and muddy substrates in the deeper water of bays, but also frequenting the mouths of rivers, estuaries, and mangrove creeks. Juveniles abound in estuaries and shallow water during summer, moving deeper as they mature. Diet of juveniles consist largely of small crustaceans and that of the adult fish consist mainly of polychaete worms and bivalve mollusks. Oviparous (Ref. 205). Spawn throughout the year with peaks in Dec.-Feb. (Ref. 6390). Marketed fresh (Ref. 9987) and chilled (Ref. 6390).

Classification

Classified By

Quoy & Gaimard, 1824

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Smelt-whitings (Sillaginidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Pacific

Distribution

Western Pacific: endemic to Australia. Records of this species from western Australia or northern Australia refer to Sillago burrus. Also very similar to Sillago aeolus from southeast Asia (Sunda Shelf). Occurrence in Tanzania (Ref. 2871) is probably a misidentification.

Range

12°S - 39°S, 143°E - 157°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

50 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; brackish; demersal; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 50 m (Ref. 6205)

Trophic Level

3.31 s.e. 0.45 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

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

30.0 cm

Common Length

25.0 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; aquaculture: experimental; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (24 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated