Terapon theraps Cuvier, 1829
Largescaled terapon
Jimjam,  Baam,  Theeb
Terapon theraps
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Terapontidae (Grunters or tigerperches)
Max. size:  30 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range - 10 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula, Persian Gulf to India and Andaman Islands; and southeast Asia. Reaches south to the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819) and northern Australia (Ref. 3131).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-9. Body oval, compressed, robust. Lower opercular spine extending well beyond the opercular flap. Post-temporal bone exposed posteriorly and serrate. Color is dusky green above, white below; body, head and fins with an iridescent sheen. Four longitudinal brown stripes extend on the upper side from the head. A large prominent black blotch is on the distal end of the spinous portion of the dorsal fin. Similar brown stripes run across the caudal fin. (from Ref. 3131). Description: Characterized by the following: horizontal scale rows above lateral line scales 6-8; head length 2.8-3.5 in SL; greatest depth of body 2.4-3.5 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Adults inhabit coastal waters (Ref. 5213). Often found in brackish waters (Ref. 4833). Juveniles with floating weeds, often far offshore (Ref. 48635). Eggs are guarded and fanned by the male parent (Ref. 205). Marketed fresh (Ref. 5284).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 February 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  No separate statistics available. Sparsely caught. Caught using gillnets, handlines and bottom trawls (Ref. 9773).


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