About Monodactylus argenteus (Linnaeus, 1758)
This species reaches a maximum length of around 27 centimeters. Its body is a bright shiny silver, with yellowish edges on all fins, and black tips on the dorsal and anal fins. Juveniles display more yellow coloration, and have two vertical black bands: one crosses the eye, and the other sits just behind the operculum.
Monodactylus argenteus inhabits a broad range of habitat types, including the open ocean, brackish waters, and the freshwater environments of rivers. In Australia, for example, it can be found in harbors and estuaries surrounding piers. Its capacity to survive across a wide range of salinities makes it a model organism for research on salinity tolerance. Juveniles are particularly tolerant of salinity changes, and can easily maintain homeostasis in variable environments like estuaries.
