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Australian croaker (Johnius australis) — Sciaenidae

Australian croaker

Johnius australis
Family: Sciaenidae

The Australian croaker (Johnius australis) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Sciaenidae that grows up to 23 cm.

Length
23 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Australian croaker is a croaker (Sciaenidae) from coastal and estuarine water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 22 cm and has an elongate, silver-grey body with an inferior mouth and stout ear-stones; like other croakers it makes a drumming sound with its swim bladder. As a bottom-oriented fish it searches over sand and mud bottoms for worms, small crustaceans and molluscs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Australian croaker?

The Australian croaker has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Australian croaker live?

The Australian croaker lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Australian croaker get?

The Australian croaker grows to a maximum of about 23 cm. On average the species is around 18 cm.

Is the Australian croaker dangerous to humans?

No, the Australian croaker is harmless to humans.

Is the Australian croaker edible?

Yes, the Australian croaker is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Australische ombervis sourced
English name
Australian croaker sourced
Scientific name
Johnius australis
Family
Sciaenidae
Other names
Bottlenose jewfish; Little jewfish; River perch verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
23.0 verified
Average length (cm)
18.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Johnius

More from the family Sciaenidae

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