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Striped Scat
Selenotoca multifasciata (Richardson, 1846)
Above an below: Striped Scat at a depth of 12 m, Fly Point Marine Reserve, New South Wales, August 2003. View larger image. Photo © D. & L. Atkinson.
The Striped Scat is a deep-bodied, compressed fish that has tiny ctenoid scales.
The body is greenish to yellow above becoming silvery below. It has a variable pattern of 10 to 12 dark vertical bars on the side of the body. There are short bars and spots on the lower sides.
The Striped Scat grows to 41 cm in length.
It feeds on small benthic invertebrates and detritus.
This species occurs in the Western Pacific. Adults are usually found schooling in sandy areas of estuaries and river mouths. Juveniles commonly enter freshwater streams.
In Australia this species is recorded from the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north and south to the central New South Wales coast.
The Striped Scat is also known as the Banded Scat and Striped Butterfish.
Care must be taken if this species is handled. At the base if each fin spine is a venom gland. The fin spines can inflict painful wounds.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Related links
- Spotted Scat fact sheet
- View the Family Scatophagidae list
- View the Scats and Butterfishes list
Further reading
- Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Merrick, J.R. & G.E. Schmida. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes. Biology and Management. John R. Merrick. Pp. 409.
