Family : Monodactylidae (Moonyfishes or fingerfishes)
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Full moony
Fish Name : Monodactylus falciformis
Max size : 31.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 5400)
Environment : reef-associated; oceanodromous
Climate : tropical
Global Importance : fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Distribution: Distribution : Western Indian Ocean: Red Sea to False Bay, South Africa, Madagascar (Ref. 4337), and Reunion (Ref. 53568).
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25-30; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 25-29. Adults silvery with dusky dorsal and anal lobes; juveniles dusky with dark vertical bars (Ref. 5400).
Biology : Inhabits coastal waters including estuaries and lagoons (Ref. 5213). Seldom enters freshwater. Juveniles can be kept in the aquarium (Ref. 4833). Caught with throw nets (Ref. 30573)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Desoutter, M.. 1986. (Ref. 4337)

India country information
Common Names : Full moony
Status : native
Salinity : brackish, marine
Uses : live export: ornamental