Family : Monodactylidae (Moonyfishes or fingerfishes)
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Silver moony
Fish Name : Monodactylus argenteus
Max size : 27.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 44894)
Environment : pelagic-neritic
Climate : tropical; 24 - 28°C; 31°N - 42°S
Global Importance : fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Distribution: Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (Ref. 7293) to Samoa, north to the Yaeyamas, south to New Caledonia and Australia (Ref. 4959). Known from the freshwater tidal zone of the Mekong delta (Ref. 12693).
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 7-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 27-31; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 27-32. Adults bright silver with yellow and dusky dorsal fin tip. Small juveniles more colorful with yellow over most of the dorsal fin and two vertical black bands over the head (Ref. 48636).
Biology : Found in bays, mangrove estuaries, tidal creeks, and lower reaches of freshwater streams (Ref. 2847, 44894, 48636); occasionally in silty coastal reefs (Ref. 9710). Feeds on plankton and detritus (Ref. 5213, 44894). Commonly seen in schools (Ref. 44894); small juveniles either solitary or in small aggregations (Ref. 48635). Highly territorial (Ref. 9710). Caught with throw nets (Ref. 30573)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Heemstra, P.C.. 1984. (Ref. 7293)

India country information
Common Names : Silvery moony, അകൊലി, ആകോലി, വാവല് മീന്, വവാല് മീന് , चाँदळाक, புரண்டி, புரண்டீ , Akoli, Chandlak, Purrandee, Silver-batfish, Vavalmeen
Status : native
Salinity : brackish, marine
Uses : live export: ornamental