Animal Species:Crescent Grunter, Terapon jarbua (Forsskål, 1775)

The Crescent Grunter can be identified by curved stripes on the body and across the tail. The species occurs in shallow coastal waters, mangroves and freshwaters.

Crescent Grunter caught at Nudgee Beach

Crescent Grunter caught at Nudgee Beach
Chris Power © Chris Power

Alternative Name/s

Crescent Perch, Spiky Trumpeter

Identification

The Crescent Grunter can be recognised by the curved stripes on the body. There are stripes across the tail and a large blotch on the first dorsal fin.

Size range

The species grows to 25 cm in length.

Distribution

In Australia it is known from the central coast of Western Australia, around the north of the country and south to the southern coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Terapon jarbua

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Crescent Grunter specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species occurs in shallow coastal waters, mangroves and freshwaters. It is found in tropical and warm temperate waters of the Indo-west Pacific.

Classification

Species:
jarbua
Genus:
Terapon
Family:
Terapontidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
  5. Sainsbury, K.J., Kailola, P.J, & G.G. Leyland. 1985. Continental Shelf Fishes of northern and north-western Australia. An illustrated Guide. CSIRO Division of Fisheries Research. Pp. 375.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Crescent Grunter, Terapon jarbua, Terapontidae, Crescent Perch, Spiky Trumpeter, stripes or bands, coastal water, mangroves, freshwater, 10 cm - 30 cm, tropical water, temperate water, shallow water,