Terapontidae

"Tiger perch" redirects here. For the species the family Datnioididae, see Datnioides.

Grunters or tigerperches are ray-finned fishes in the family Terapontidae (also spelled Teraponidae, Theraponidae or Therapontidae).^[3] This family is part of the superfamily Percoidea of the order Perciformes.^[4]

Terapontidae
Terapon jarbua the type species of the genus Terapon
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Centrarchiformes
Suborder:	Terapontoidei
Family:	Terapontidae Richardson, 1842[1]
Type species
Holocentrus servus Bloch, 1790[2]
Genera
see text

Characteristics

The Terapontidae is a large family of small to medium-sized perciform fishes which occur in marine, brackish and fresh waters in the Indo-Pacific region. They are characterised by a single long-based dorsal fin which has a notch marking the boundary between the spiny and soft-rayed portions. They have small to moderate-sized scales, a continuous lateral line reaching the caudal fin, and most species lack teeth on the roof of the mouth.^[5] The marine species are found in inshore sea and brackish waters, some species are able to enter extremely saline and fresh waters. In Australia and New Guinea there are a number of species restricted to fresh water.^[3]

Classification

The following genera are classified within the family Terpontidae:^[6][5]

• Amniataba Whitley, 1943
• Bidyanus Whitley, 1943
• Hannia Vari, 1978
• Helotes Cuvier, 1829
• Hephaestus De Vis, 1884
• Lagusia Vari 1978
• Leiopotherapon Fowler, 1931
• Mesopristes Bleeker, 1873
• Pelates Cuvier, 1829
• Pelsartia Whitley, 1943
• Pingalla Whitley, 1955
• Rhynchopelates Fowler, 1931
• Scortum Whitley, 1943
• Syncomistes Vari, 1978
• Terapon Cuvier, 1816
• Variichthys Allen, 1993

Timeline