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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
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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.

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.

Is the Full moony edible?

Yes, the Full moony is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kaapse maanvis sourced
English name
Full moony sourced
Scientific name
Monodactylus falciformis
Family
Monodactylidae
Other names
Buttercream; Cape moonfish; Cape moonie; Cape moony; Fingerfish 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
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
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 Monodactylus

More from the family Monodactylidae

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