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🌊 Marine Endangered 🍽️ Edible 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Tropical

Japanese meagre

Argyrosomus japonicus Temminck & Schlegel, 1843
Max Length
181 cm
Max Weight
75.0 kg
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
4.5
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
66.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
-

📖 Overview

Adult fish found mainly near shore beyond the surf zone, occasionally going inshore. Juveniles exclusively found inshore. Juveniles recruit to estuaries at about 30 cm TL. An important food fish .

Scientific Name
Argyrosomus japonicus
Authority
Temminck & Schlegel, 1843
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
EN
Max Length
181 cm
Max Weight
75 kg
Latitude
39°S – 40°N
Trophic Level
4.5
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
66.00/100
Migration
Oceanodromous
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25 - 30; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 7; Vertebrae: 25. In life, silvery grey becoming darker above and lighter below. Dorsal surface with a bluish bronze sheen that may become coppery on head. Preserved specimens vary in color according to treatment; usually grey but sometimes brown; darker above and lighter below (Ref 11025).: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Japanese meagre is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Japanese meagre is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Size at Maturity
100cm TL

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; oceanodromous . Tropical; 40°N - 39°S, 18°E - 155°E northwest coast of India; northern Pacific from southern Korea and Japan, along the Chinese coast to Hong Kong; in Australia along the entire southern seaboard from North West Cape (north of Shark Bay) in Western Australia to the Burnett River (north of Brisbane) in Queensland.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🌿 Brackish
Migration
Oceanodromous
Trophic Level
4.5±0.6

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01 × L3.06 (TL)
Max TL
181cm
Max Weight
75,000g
Dorsal Spines
11
Dorsal Rays
28
Anal Spines
2
Anal Rays
7
Vertebrae
25

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Endangered
Assessment Date
2018

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
66.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.5
Apex / Top predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
40°N – 39°S
Described By
Temminck & Schlegel, 1843

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Argyrosomus Japonicus is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 18.8 g
Omega-3 (total) 215 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Japanese meagre has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

👥 Community & Contribute

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