Acanthopagrus morrisonae Iwatsuki 2013

This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: moderately deep body, 2.0-2.4 (mean 2·2) times in SL: D XI,11 (rarely XI,10); first soft dorsal-fin ray slightly longer than last dorsal-fin spine; scale rows between fifth dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 3.5 ; scale rows above lateral line 4.5, scale rows below 11.5; short second anal-fin spine, ordinary [16.7-.20.7% (mean 18.4%) of SL], 1.1-1.3 (mean 1.2) in 2AS/3AS; pored lateral-line scales 42-45 (mode 44); pelvic, anal and caudal fins entirely vivid yellow, caudal fin with a wide black posterior margin; absence of black streaks proximally near anal-fin base on inter-radial membranes between yellow anal-fin rays; black blotches on inter-radial membranes between dorsal-fin rays absent; weak diffuse dark blotch at origin of lateral line (usually covering first pored lateral line scale) continuing as relatively black pigment over upper rear part of opercle (Ref. 93743).

Once males changed to functional females, they remain so throughout their life (Ref. 115743).

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8

Occurs in shallow coastal waters and enters river mouths and estuaries. Schooling species; often feeds on tidal flats. A popular angling species, often caught with hook and line and sometimes taken by trawlers (Ref. 44894).