| Synonyms
| | | | Holocentrus calcarifer Bloch, 1790: 100 (original description). | | | Perca calcar Bloch & Schneider, 1801: 89 (unjustified emendation of Holocentrus calcarifer Bloch, 1790). | | | Holocentrus heptadactylus Lacepède, 1802: 344, 389. | | | Pseudolates cavifrons Alleyne & Macleay, 1877: 262. | | | Lates darwiniensis Macleay, 1878: 345. |
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| FAO Names | | En - Barramundi(=Giant seaperch), Fr - Perche barramundi, Sp - Perca gigante. |
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3Alpha Code: GIP Taxonomic Code: 1700116701 |
| Diagnostic Features
| | | Body elongate, compressed, with a deep caudal peduncle. Head pointed, with concave dorsal profile becoming convex in front of dorsal fin. Mouth large, slightly oblique, upper jaw reaching to behind eye;
teeth villiform, no canines present.
Lower edge of pre-operculum with a strong spine; operculum with a small spine and with a serrated flap above origin of lateral line.
Lower first gill arch with 16 to 17 gillrakers.
Scales large, ctenoid.
Dorsal fin with 7 to 9 spines and 10 to 11 soft rays; a very deep notch almost dividing spiny from soft part of fin; pectoral fin short and rounded, several short, strong serrations above its base; dorsal and anal fins both have scaly sheaths. Anal fin rounded, with 3 spines and 7 to 8 short rays. Caudal fin rounded.
Colour in two phases, either olive brown above with silver sides and belly (usually juveniles) or green/blue above and silver below. No spots or bars present on fins or body.
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| Geographical Distribution | |
| | East Indian Ocean and Western central Pacific. Japanese Sea, Torres Strait or the coast of New Guinea and Darwin, Northern Territory, Queensland (Australia). Also, westward to East Africa. |
| Habitat and Biology | | | A diadromous fish, inhabiting rivers before returning to the estuaries to spawn.Found in coastal waters, estuaries and lagoons,in clear to turbid water.Usually occurs at a temperature range of 26-29º C and between 10-40 m.
Feeds on fishes and crustaceans. |
| Size | | | To 200 cm; common between 25 and 100 cm. |
| Interest to Fisheries | | Caught maintly with bottom trawls, handlines, seines, gillnets, and traps. Reaches 1500-3000 g in one year in ponds under optimum conditions.
Sold fresh and frozen (marketed mostly fresh); consumed steamed, pan-fried, broiled and baked. | | | |
| Local Names | | | Bikol :
Apahap ,
Bulgan . |
| English :
Asian seabass ,
Barramundi ,
Barramundi perch ,
Giant perch ,
Giant sea perch ,
Palmer ,
Silver barramundi . |
| Malay/Indonesian :
Bukai-bukai ,
Gelungsung ,
Kakap ,
Kakap putih ,
Selungsung ,
Siakap ,
Siakap putih . |
| Maranao/Samal/Tao Sug :
Matakating . |
| Tagalog :
Katuyot ,
Matang pusa . |
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Bibliography Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2003. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org Rainboth, W.L. - 1996 FAO species identification field guide for fishery purposes. Fishes of the Cambodian Mekong. Rome, FAO. 1996.: 265 pp. Sukhavisidh, P. - 1974Centropomidae. In: W. Fischer & P.J.P. Whitehead. FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Eastern Indian Ocean (fishing area 57) and Western Central Pacific (fishing area 71). Vol. I, Rome FAO, pag var. |
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