Inhabit sandy and muddy bottoms of coastal waters and estuaries . Sometimes found in freshwater . Feeds on fish and (benthic) crustaceans as well as on mollusks and worms . Breeds in brackish water lagoons and estuaries, and even freshwaters . Of all grunts found in the continental waters of Lower Guinea, this species is found farthest upstream and seems best adapted to freshwater environments .
Dorsal spines (total): 11 - 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15 - 17; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9; Vertebrae: 27. Diagnosis: body oblong and compressed, not very deep . Snout short and pointed , obtuse , distinctly longer than eye diameter . 2 anterior pores on chin, followed by a median pit bearing openings of another pair of pores . A deep groove and a pore above maxilla, below the preorbital bone . Last dorsal spine longer than penultimate one . Second anal fin spine longer and stouter than third , third anal spine may also be thick but always shorter . Caudal fin slightly forked; scales slightly ctenoid; 4-5 scale rows between lateral line and middle of spinous dorsal-fin base; swim bladder simple, without anterior horns . 11-13/1/3-6 (total 16-20) gill rakers on first gill arch; 6-7 scales on upper part of transverse series; 20-22 scales around middle of caudal peduncle . Coloration: silvery, with round, dark brown or black and irregularly scattered spots following scale rows on back and sides . Small-sized specimens
Behavioural data for Sompat grunt is currently being reviewed.
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding .
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; depth range ? - 100 m , usually 20 - 50 m . Tropical; 20°C - ? ; 20°N - 23°S, 26°W - 16°E west coast of Africa, from Mauritania (Ref.
fish (Ref
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pomadasis jubelini | Cuvier | 1830 | Synonym |
| Pristipoma jubelini | Cuvier | 1830 | Synonym |
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 793 records indexed .
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