Japanese sillago
📖 Overview
Occur in bays on shallow sandy flats. Maximum size is over 30 cm (Mark Donachy, pers. comm., 2001). Oviparous . Greatly esteemed for its delicate flavor .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21 - 23; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 22 - 24; Vertebrae: 35. Swim bladder with anterior projecting extensions and a single posterior extension. Body is greenish gray above, the dorsal part of the head being the darker, and whitish below. The fins are mostly hyaline; the membrane between the first to the third dorsal fin spines with minute dark brown dots; the margins of the dorsal fin with a few dark brown spots. The caudal fin with dark margins.: elongated; Cross section: circular.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Japanese sillago is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Studies of Japanese whiting occupying surf zones show that there is a distinct shift in diet as fish mature, with the change occurring at a length of around 20 mm. Young fish tended to consume a higher proportion of calanoid copepods, with small amounts of mysids also taken. Older fish take substantially more mysids, with few copepods or polychaetes taken. Other studies have found amphipods, bivalves, caridean shrimps, crabs and small fish also contribute to the diets of S. japonica in some areas, helping to reduce interspecific competition locally. In most all diet surveys, there is a shift in diet as size increases, probably to avoid intraspecific competition. Seasonal changes associated with prey abundance are also observed.
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 30 m . Subtropical; 45°N - 21°N, 116°E - 149°E Northwest Pacific: Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Japanese sillago is an edible species."
- 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
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Detailed nutritional data for Japanese sillago is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Japanese sillago has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Japanese Sillago · Japanese Whiting |
| 🏳️Catalan | Sillaguè temperat |
| 🌍CES | ježdíkovec japonský |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Japansk sillago |
| 🇫🇷French | Pêche-madame Japonais |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Shirogisu · シロギス |
| 🇰🇷Korean | 청보리멸 |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Японская силага |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Silago Japonés |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | kiss魚 · 少鱗鱚 · 日本沙鮻 · 沙腸仔 |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 20 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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