Family : Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos)
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Black pomfret
Fish Name : Parastromateus niger
Max size : 75.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 5284)
Environment : reef-associated; amphidromous ; depth range 15 - 105 m
Climate : tropical; 42°N - 41°S
Global Importance : fisheries: highly commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.6)Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: East Africa to southern Japan and Australia.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 2-6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 41-46; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 35-40; Vertebrae: 24-24. Deep-bodied and strongly compressed fishes. Lateral line ends in weakly-developed scutes on the caudal peduncle. Pelvic fins lost in individuals over 9 cm. Color is brown above, silvery-white below. The anterior parts of the dorsal and anal fins bluish-gray. The other fins yellowish.
Biology : Inhabits coastal areas with muddy substrate. Found near the bottom during daytime and near the surface at night. Enters estuaries (Ref. 1479). Normally forms large schools (Ref. 5213). Swims on its side near the surface (Ref. 3197). Feeds on zooplankton (Ref. 30573). Excellent food fish (Ref. 3197); marketed fresh, may be dried or salted (Ref. 5284)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator : Smith-Vaniz, William F.
Main Ref : Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen and J.E. Hanley. 1989. (Ref. 7300)

India country information
Common Names : Brown pomfret, हळवा, અડડયૉ, வாவல், അവോലി, చందువా, வெள்ளை வாவல், ತೊಂದೆ ರೊಟ್ಟ   , കരുവോലി, കരുവോളി, கருவாவல், വെള്ളാവോലി, കറുത്താകോലി, കറുത്താവോലി, తెల్లచందువా , నెల్లచందువా , నెల్లచందువా  , చందువా , હલવા , Adadio, Avoli, Black pomfret, Chanduva, Halwa, Halwa, Halwa, Karauthakoli, Karuvaval, Karuvolli, Nallachanduva, Pomfret, Thellachanduva, Thondrotte, Vavval, Vellaivaval, Vellavoli
Status : native
Salinity : brackish, marine
Uses : no uses