Sillagos and smelt-whitings are members of the Sillaginidae family. They are widespread throughout the Indian ocean and the Western Pacific ocean. The sillagos have an elongated body with long and conical snout. Their opercle have a small sharp spine and they have 2 separate dorsal fins.
Sillagos are inshore species that feed mainly on benthic or epibenthic organisms. They are found in shallow sandy bays and frequently enter estuaries, penetrating into fresh water for brief periods. Most species are schooling.
There are 6 genera and about 34 species of Sillaginidae worldwide. Malaysia has one genus and about 8 species.
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Scientific Name: Sillago ingenuua McKay, 1985 English Name: Bay Sillago Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 沙鮻 (Shā suō), 沙钻 (Shā zuàn) Local Malay Name: Ikan Bulus-bulus, Bebulus, Seloncong, Puntung Damar Teluk Local Hokkien: Sua Jui,, Sua Jiam Local Teochew: Sua Jui Local Cantonese: Sar Joi Main Diagnostic Features: No wide distinct silvery lateral band. Peritoneum black-brown. No black spot on pectoral fin base. Size: Maximum standard length 20 cm.  Scientific Name: Sillago lutea McKay, 1985 English Name: Mud Sillago, Mud Whiting Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 沙鮻 (Shā suō), 沙钻 (Shā zuàn) Local Malay Name: Ikan Bulus-bulus, Bebulus, Seloncong, Puntung Damar Local Hokkien: Sua Jui,, Sua Jiam Local Teochew: Sua Jui Local Cantonese: Sar Joi Main Diagnostic Features: Body is light sandy brown above, pale brown to whitish below, with an ill defined silvery mid-lateral band. Margins of scales may be slightly darker giving a vague meshwork pattern to the body above the lateral line. Fins hyaline, the first dorsal-fin membrane tipped with a fine dusting of black. Dark outer lobes on the caudal fin. No dark spot at the base of the pectoral fin. Size: Maximum standard length 16 cm; commonly to 15 cm.     Scientific Name: Sillago sihama (Forsskål, 1775) English Name: Silver Sillago, Silver Whiting Mandarin Name | 鱼类中文名: 沙鮻 (Shā suō), 沙钻 (Shā zuàn) Local Malay Name: Ikan Bulus-bulus, Bebulus, Seloncong, Puntung Damar Perak Local Hokkien: Sua Jui,, Sua Jiam Local Teochew: Sua Jui Local Cantonese: Sar Joi Main Diagnostic Features: Body light tan, silvery yellow-brown, sandy-brown, or honey colored; paler below. A midlateral, silvery, longitudinal band. No black spot on pectoral fin base. Caudal fin dusky terminally. Anal fin frequently with a whitish margin. Size: Maximum standard length 30 cm; commonly to 20 cm.  
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