Moonfish (Mene maculata)

Scientific name: Mene maculata Bloch & Schneider, 1801

Moonfish (Mene maculata)

The Moonfish (Mene maculata) is a brackish-water fish of the family Menidae. Native range: Indo-Pacific, East Africa to southern Japan and northeastern Australia. Recorded from the South China Sea and the Arafura Sea.

Biology

Inhabits deeper coastal waters near the bottom on both the continental shelves and around major island groups; sometimes in river estuaries. Found in schools. Feeds on benthic invertebrates. Readily dries in air without salting. Marketed fresh and dried. Minimum depth from.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Mene maculata
Family
Menidae (Moonfish)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
30.0
Common length
20.0
Depth range
50–200 m (164–656 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 50 - 200 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to southern Japan and northeastern Australia. Recorded from the South China Sea and the Arafura Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=1.2)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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