Sri Lankan Sea Bass

It can be diagnosed from Lates calcarifer by the following characters: lesser body depth (26.6?27.6% SL, vs. 28.9?34.6% SL); 5 rows of scales between the base of the third dorsal-fin spine and lateral line (vs. 6); 31?34 serrae on the posterior edge of the preoperculum (vs. 16?26); third dorsal-fin spine 3.0?3.5 times the length of the second (vs. 2.1?2.8). It can be distinguished from Lates japonicus by having the third anal-fin spine longer (vs. shorter) than the second and possessing 5 (vs. 7) rows of scales between the base of the third dorsal-fin spine and the lateral line, a lesser body depth (26.6?27.6% SL, vs. 30.3?33.7% SL), and 47?52 (vs. 58?63) lateral-line scales. It differs from Lates uwisara by having a greater eye diameter (5.5?5.6% SL, vs. 4.4?4.7% SL), a lesser body depth (26.6?27.6% SL, vs. 28.4?34.5% SL), a shorter dorsal-fin base (41.1?43.2% SL, vs. 43.3?45.0% SL), and by possessing 5 (vs. 7) rows of scales between the base of the third dorsal-fin spine and lateral line (Ref. 90099).

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 7 - 8

Lates lakdiva is a species of ray-finned fish from the family Latidae, which is only known to occur in western Sri Lanka. It is similar to the barramundi, but its body is not as deep. It is a species of fresh and brackish waters.