Family : Elopidae (Tenpounders)
Order : Elopiformes  (tarpons and tenpounders)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Tenpounder
Fish Name : Elops machnata
Max size : 118 cm FL (male/unsexed; Ref. 40637); max. published weight: 10.8 kg (Ref. 40637)
Environment : pelagic-neritic; oceanodromous
Climate : tropical; 38°N - 37°S
Global Importance : fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Distribution: Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea to Mossel Bay, South Africa and east to India and western Pacific. Africa: Inland waters.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20-27; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 14-18. Upper jaw reaching well behind eye; teeth on jaws villiform (Ref. 4832).
Biology : Occurs in coastal waters, but enters lagoons and estuaries (Ref. 4832). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Young and adults feed on small fishes and crustaceans (Ref. 5213). Probably spawn at sea, but the transparent larvae migrate to inshore areas and are often found in brackish water (Ref. 7050). Are voracious carnivores that take fish, squid and shrimp bait (Ref. 3968). Edible, but not tasty and full of bones (Ref. 3968). A total length of 126 cm for this species has been reported from Knysna, South Africa (G. Bernardt, pers. comm., e-mail: gerard@smallstreams.com)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Smith, M.M.. 1986. (Ref. 3968)

India country information
Common Names : Ladyfish, വളളി പൂമീന്, चिरया, शोनास, மன்னா, വള്ളി പൂമീന്, மூரன் கென்டை, വല്ലി പൂമീന് , உளத்தி, பூமீன், दांदीळि, జల్లుగు , జిన్నగో  , ௨லத்தீ , பூமீன் , மன்னா , Chirya, Dandeli, Indo-Pacific tarpon, Jallagu, Jinnagow, Manna, Mooran kendai, Naum, Poomeen, Shonas, Ullahti, Valli-poomeen, Vallipoomeen
Status : native
Salinity : freshwater, brackish, marine
Uses : no uses