Family : Drepaneidae (Sicklefishes)
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Spotted sicklefish
Fish Name : Drepane punctata
Max size : 50.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 9710)
Environment : reef-associated; amphidromous ; depth range 10 - 49 m
Climate : subtropical; 32°N - 22°S
Global Importance : fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.19-0.68)Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: temperate and tropical waters from India to northern Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan and Japan.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 8-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-22; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 17-19. Color generally silvery with greenish tinge above. Pectoral fins long and pointed. Similar to D. longimana but differs in having 4 - 11 vertical gray spots on the upper half of the sides, and generally 8 dorsal spines (against none (spots) and generally 9 spines in D. longimana).
Biology : Occurs in various inshore habitats: sand or mud bottoms, reefs, estuaries and harbors (Ref. 9800). Found near coral and rock reefs at temperatures ranging from 26° to 29°C. Feeds on invertebrates and benthic fishes (Ref. 5213). Generally marketed fresh (Ref. 5284)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Maugé, L.A.. 1984. (Ref. 7338)

India country information
Common Names : Spotted sicklefish, चाँद, తెట్టి, பய்ந்தி, திரட்‍டை, தீரட்டை , பைந்தீ , ચાઁદ , Chand, Chand, Moon-fish, Painthi, Spotted bat-fish, Spotted drepane, Therattai, Thetti, Thotha
Status : native
Salinity : brackish, marine
Uses : no uses