Spotted scat
📖 Overview
Adults inhabit harbors, natural embayments, brackish estuaries and the lower reaches of freshwater streams, frequently occurring among mangroves. They feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter . The dorsal, anal and pelvic spines are believed by Philippine fishers to be venomous and capable of inflicting wounds . Used in Chinese medicine . In Hong Kong live fish markets . Marketed as fresh .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 10 - 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 18; Anal spines: 4; Anal soft rays: 13 - 15. Ground colour greenish. Juveniles with a few large roundish blotches, about size of eye, or with about 5 or 6 broad, dark, vertical bars. In large adults, spots may be faint and restricted to dorsal part of flanks. Body quadrangular, strongly compressed. Dorsal head profile steep. Eye moderately large, its diameter somewhat smaller than snout length. Snout rounded. Mouth small, horizontal, not protractile. Teeth villiform, in several rows on jaws (ref 43044).: short and / or deep.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Spotted scat is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Multiple spawner .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; amphidromous ; depth range 0 - 5 m . Tropical; 20°C - 28°C ; 35°N - 33°S, 48°E - 171°W north to southern Japan, south to New Caledonia.
🌿 Ecology
worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cacodoxus argus | Linnaeus | 1766 | Synonym |
| Chaetodon argus | Linnaeus | 1766 | Synonym |
| Chaetodon atromaculatus | Bennett | 1830 | Synonym |
| Chaetodon pairatalis | Hamilton | 1822 | Synonym |
| Ephippus argus | Linnaeus | 1766 | Synonym |
| Sargus maculatus | Gronow | 1854 | Heterotypic |
| Scatophagus aetatevarians | De Vis | 1884 | Synonym |
| Scatophagus alternans | Castelnau | 1879 | Synonym |
| Scatophagus argus argus | Linnaeus | 1766 | Synonym |
| Scatophagus argus atromaculatus | Bennett | 1830 | Synonym |
| Scatophagus argus ocellata | Klunzinger | 1880 | Synonym |
| Scatophagus bougainvillii | Cuvier | 1831 | Synonym |
| Scatophagus maculatus | Gronow | 1854 | Synonym |
| Scatophagus ornatus | Cuvier | 1831 | Synonym |
| Scatophagus purpurascens | Cuvier | 1831 | Synonym |
| Scatophagus quadranus | De Vis | 1882 | Synonym |
| Scatophagus quadratus | De Vis | 1882 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 56 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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