Australian Giant Herring

Upper jaw reaching well behind eye; teeth on jaws villiform (Ref. 4832).

Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20 - 27; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 14 - 18

Occurs in coastal waters, but enters lagoons and estuaries (Ref. 4832). Young and adults feed on small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 5213). Probably spawn at sea, but the transparent larvae migrate to inshore areas and are often found in brackish water (Ref. 7050). Are voracious carnivores that take fish, squid and shrimp bait (Ref. 3968).

Occurs in coastal waters, but enters lagoons and estuaries (Ref. 4832) [actual freshwater records remain to be confirmed]. Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Young and adults feed on small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 5213). Probably spawn at sea, but the transparent larvae migrate to inshore areas and are often found in brackish water (Ref. 7050). Are voracious carnivores that take fish, squid and shrimp bait (Ref. 3968). Edible, but not tasty and full of bones (Ref. 3968). A total length of 126 cm for this species has been reported from Knysna, South Africa (G. Bernardt, pers. comm., e-mail: gerard@smallstreams.com) .

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

分布於印度-西太平洋區，由南非、紅海到新加勒多尼亞。臺灣各地沙泥底海域均可發現。

台灣各地均產，春夏間產量較豐，主要漁法為圍網、刺網及釣獲，亦偶有為定置網捕獲者。肉質不甚佳，多刺，常醃漬成鹹魚出售。

體延長而側扁。吻長約等於或稍大於眼徑。口大；上頜向後延伸超過眼睛；上下頜、鋤骨及腭骨均具細齒。具喉板，擬鰓發達。體被小而薄的圓鱗，腹部無稜鱗，背鰭、臀鰭基底有鱗鞘；胸鰭及腹鰭基部具腋鱗。背鰭起始於腹鰭基後，最末鰭條不延長；臀鰭位於體後部。體具銀白色光澤，背部較暗。各鰭偏黑。本種以前多被誤鑑為夏威夷海鰱。

亞熱帶大洋性洄游魚類，以小魚蝦為主食，幼魚常出現於內灣、河口等半淡鹹水域；成魚於外海產卵。

Elops machnata, the tenpounder, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Elopidae in the order Elopiformes (tarpons and tenpounders). This species is found in coastal regions of the Indian Ocean.

Inhabits coastal waters, entering lagoons and estuaries. Feeds on small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 5213). Probably spawns at sea, but the transparent larvae migrate to inshore areas and are often found in brackish water (Ref. 7050) Widespread throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans, east indies, China, Japan, and Hawaii .