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Full moony (Monodactylus falciformis) — Monodactylidae

Full moony

Monodactylus falciformis

The Full moony (Monodactylus falciformis) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Monodactylidae that grows up to 31 cm.

Length
31 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: Sri Lanka, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The full moony is a moonyfish (Monodactylidae) from coastal, brackish and estuarine water of the western Indian Ocean and southern Africa. The species grows to about 31 cm and has a deep, silvery, strongly compressed body with sickle-shaped dorsal and anal fins. It swims in schools in estuaries, mangroves and coastal water and eats small zooplankton, algae and detritus; it tolerates strongly varying salinities. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Full moony?

The Full moony has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Full moony live?

The Full moony lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Africa: Sri Lanka, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan and others

How big does the Full moony get?

The Full moony grows to a maximum of about 31 cm.

Is the Full moony dangerous to humans?

No, the Full moony is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Full moony edible?

Yes, the Full moony is commonly eaten.

More photos

Full moony (Monodactylus falciformis) — Monodactylidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Prof Nadine A. Strydom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Full moony (Monodactylus falciformis) — Monodactylidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Joshua Rains, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Full moony (Monodactylus falciformis) — Monodactylidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — George Henry Ford (Public domain)
Full moony (Monodactylus falciformis) — Monodactylidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Ricky Taylor, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Full moony sourced
Scientific name
Monodactylus falciformis
Family
Monodactylidae
Other names
Buttercream; Cape moonfish; Cape moonie; Cape moony; Fingerfish; Batfish; Kitefish; Moonfish; Moony; Silver batfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
31.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Africa: Sri Lanka, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Monodactylus

More from the family Monodactylidae

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