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Grey seabass (Malakichthys griseus) — Acropomatidae

Grey seabass

Malakichthys griseus
Family: Acropomatidae

The Grey seabass (Malakichthys griseus) is a saltwater fish of the family Acropomatidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Saltwater
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea (South) and others

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Description

The grey seabass is a perch-like fish (Acropomatidae) from deeper coastal waters of the northwest Pacific, off East Asia. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a stocky, silver-grey body with large eyes, adapted to the dim light of deeper water layers. As an open-water predatory fish it hunts small invertebrates and small fish above the continental slope. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Grey seabass?

The Grey seabass has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Grey seabass live?

The Grey seabass lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water. Asia: Australia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea (South) and others

How big does the Grey seabass get?

The Grey seabass grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Grey seabass dangerous to humans?

No, the Grey seabass 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.

More photos

Grey seabass (Malakichthys griseus) — Acropomatidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Miyazaki Y, Teramura A, Senou H (2019) Preliminary report on bycatch fish species collected from the Tokyo Submarine Canyon, Japan. ZooKeys 843: 129-147. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.843.32410 (CC BY 4.0)
Grey seabass (Malakichthys griseus) — Acropomatidae — 3
Baldwin, Albertus H. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Grey seabass (Malakichthys griseus) — Acropomatidae — 4
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Grey seabass (Malakichthys griseus) — Acropomatidae — 5
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
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All data

Identification

English name
Grey seabass sourced
Scientific name
Malakichthys griseus
Family
Acropomatidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Natural range
Asia: Australia, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea (South) and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

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

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 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 Malakichthys

More from the family Acropomatidae

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