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Eastern striped grunter (Helotes sexlineatus) — Terapontidae

Eastern striped grunter

Helotes sexlineatus
Family: Terapontidae
LC · Least Concern

The Eastern striped grunter (Helotes sexlineatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Terapontidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Pacific; coastal waters and estuaries.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The sixlined trumpeter is a grunter (Terapontidae) from the western Pacific. The species has an elongate, silvery body with several dark lengthwise stripes over the flank. Adults live inshore, also in estuaries and brackish water. As an omnivore it feeds on algae, detritus and small invertebrates. The male guards the eggs and fans fresh oxygen over them with its fins. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Eastern striped grunter?

The Eastern striped grunter has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Several dark longitudinal stripes; the male guards and fans the eggs.

Where does the Eastern striped grunter live?

The Eastern striped grunter lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Western Pacific; coastal waters and estuaries.

How big does the Eastern striped grunter get?

The Eastern striped grunter grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Eastern striped grunter dangerous to humans?

No, the Eastern striped grunter is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Eastern striped grunter edible?

Yes, the Eastern striped grunter is commonly eaten.

More photos

Eastern striped grunter (Helotes sexlineatus) — Terapontidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Federico Ghiazza, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Eastern striped grunter (Helotes sexlineatus) — Terapontidae — 3
Rosemary Morison 2 (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Eastern striped grunter (Helotes sexlineatus) — Terapontidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Buffon, Georges Louis Leclerc; Cuvier, Georges; Valenciennes (Public domain)
Eastern striped grunter (Helotes sexlineatus) — Terapontidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) tern911, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
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All data

Identification

English name
Eastern striped grunter verified
Scientific name
Helotes sexlineatus
Family
Terapontidae
Other names
Eastern striped trumpeter; Six-lined terapon; Six-lined trumpeter; Striped terapon; Trumpeter perch; Terapon-perch verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes inferred
Tail shape
Forked 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
Natural range
Western Pacific; coastal waters and estuaries. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Algae, detritus and small invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Several dark longitudinal stripes; the male guards and fans the eggs. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

More from the family Terapontidae

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