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Silver Grunter
Mesopristes argenteus (Cuvier, 1829)
A Silver Grunter caught on hook and line at a depth of 1 m in a freshwater section of the Daintree River, north of Cairns, Queensland, January 2004. Photo © C. Schuster. View larger image.
A Silver Grunter caught near the Bendoroda Wilderness Lodge, one hour from Popondetta, Papua New Guinea, August 2005. Photo © D. McArthy. View larger image.
Above and below: A Silver Grunter caught by boat electrofishing at a depth of 2 m, in the lowland freshwater section of the Mulgrave River, south of Cairns, Queensland, May 2005. Photo © T. Rayner. View larger image.
The Silver Grunter has large eyes, a flat ventral profile and a large emarginate caudal fin. It has long dorsal and anal fin spines.
This species is silvery, often brownish-green above and white below. Juveniles are silver with four strong black stripes on the head and body. The stripes disappear with growth.
It is an omnivorous species.
Adults are found mostly in coastal waters near mangroves. Juveniles enter estuaries and freshwaters.
This species occurs throughout much of the Western Pacific, including Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
In Australia it is known from the eastern coast and rivers of Cape York Peninsula, northern Queensland.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Related links
- Banded Grunter fact sheet
- Silver Perch fact sheet
- View the Grunters list
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1991. Field Guide to The Freshwater Fishes of New Guinea. Christensen Research Institute. Pub. 9. Pp. 268.
- Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
- Grant, E.M. 1982. Guide to Fishes. The Department of Harbours and Marine, Brisbane, Queensland. Pp. 896.
