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Common asohos (Sillago sihama) — Sillaginidae

Common asohos

Sillago sihama
Family: Sillaginidae
LC · Least Concern

The Common asohos (Sillago sihama) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sillaginidae that grows up to 31 cm.

Length
31 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–60.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The silver sillago (Sillago sihama) is a slender coastal fish of the family Sillaginidae from the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. The species has an elongate, sand-coloured to silvery body with a pointed head and ventral mouth, and reaches about 31 cm. It is common along sandy beaches, sandbars, mangrove creeks and estuaries and sometimes occurs in fresh water. It forms schools and quickly buries itself in the sand when disturbed. The diet consists mainly of polychaete worms, small prawns and other bottom invertebrates. The species has delicate, valued flesh and is an important food fish that is fished commercially.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Common asohos?

The Common asohos has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Common asohos live?

The Common asohos lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Common asohos get?

The Common asohos grows to a maximum of about 31 cm. On average the species is around 20 cm.

Is the Common asohos dangerous to humans?

No, the Common asohos is harmless to humans.

Is the Common asohos edible?

Yes, the Common asohos is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zilveren sillago sourced
English name
Common asohos verified
Scientific name
Sillago sihama
Family
Sillaginidae
Other names
Common sillaginid; Common whiting; Indian whiting; Northern whiting verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
31.0 verified
Average length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
60.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
7.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Sillago

More from the family Sillaginidae

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