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Barred tigerfish (Datnioides polota) — Datnioididae

Barred tigerfish

Datnioides polota
Family: Datnioididae
LC · Least Concern

The Barred tigerfish (Datnioides polota) is a brackish-water fish of the family Datnioididae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
30 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The silver tigerfish is a tigerperch (Datnioididae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a deep, laterally compressed, silvery body with several broad, dark crossbars, from which it gets its tiger name. It lives in brackish water at the mouths of large rivers and in coastal lagoons, and also enters fresh water. As a predator it takes small fishes, shrimps and insects. It is a valued food and aquarium fish. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Barred tigerfish?

The Barred tigerfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Barred tigerfish live?

The Barred tigerfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Barred tigerfish get?

The Barred tigerfish grows to a maximum of about 30 cm. On average the species is around 18 cm.

Is the Barred tigerfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Barred tigerfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Barred tigerfish edible?

Yes, the Barred tigerfish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Vierband-tijgervis sourced
English name
Barred tigerfish verified
Scientific name
Datnioides polota
Family
Datnioididae
Other names
Four barred tiger fish; Four-banded tigerfish; Four-banded triple-tail; Four-barred tigerfish; Four-barred-tiger-fish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
30.0 verified
Average length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Vertical bars inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Datnioides

More from the family Datnioididae

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