Barramundi (Asian Seabass)
Barramundi (Lates calcarifer), also known as Asian Seabass, Giant Sea Perch and Siakap, are large predatory fish widely distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific region from the Persian Gulf to China, Taiwan, southern Japan, Papua New Guinea and northern Australia. Their remarkable ability to move between freshwater and saltwater habitats has made them one of the most popular sport and aquaculture fishes in the Indo-Pacific region.
Barramundi are distinguished by their large mouth extending beyond the eye, concave head profile and elongated rough-scaled silver body. Their large golden eyes are highly reflective in low-light conditions, giving them excellent vision when hunting in turbid waters. They can grow to about 2 metres in total length.
Barramundi are opportunistic predators that feed mainly on fishes and crustaceans. They are commonly found around submerged logs, undercut banks, overhanging vegetation and estuarine habitats where they ambush their prey.
Barramundi are broadcast spawners that aggregate to spawn. In Thailand and Malaysia, spawning is associated with the monsoon season, with two peaks during the northeast monsoon (August – October) and the southwest monsoon (February – June). In the Philippines, they spawn from late June to late October. In northern Australia, they spawn between September and March, with latitudinal variation in spawning season, presumably in response to varying water temperatures. Maturing males migrate downstream from freshwater habitats at the start of the wet season to spawn with resident females in estuaries. Spawning aggregations occur in or around the mouths of rivers after the full moon and new moon, primarily at the beginning of an incoming tide which carries the eggs into the estuaries. They will often spawn for up to five consecutive nights.
Barramundi are protandrous hermaphrodites. Most individuals first mature as males at three to four years of age, at around 60-70 cm in total length and may later undergo sex inversion to become females after one or more spawning seasons.
Female Barramundi are capable of producing large numbers of eggs. A single 120 cm total length female may produce up to 30–40 million eggs. The larvae will remain in estuaries for several months before the juveniles move out into the freshwater reaches of coastal rivers and creeks. They remain in the freshwater habitats until they are three to four years of age, when they reach sexual maturity, mostly as males, and then move downstream during the breeding season to participate in spawning. After one or more spawning seasons the males may undergo sex inversion to become females.
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Other names for the fish:
Balga, Barlga, Barra, Birloonkoordany, Cock-up, Deyo, Giant perch, Murrulpal, Palmer, Silver barramundi, Bhetki, Cá vurot, Trey spong, 盲槽, 花鲈, 尖吻鱸, 尖吻鲈, 金目鲈, 扁红目鲈, Bar du Japon, Brochet de mer, Perche barramundi, الفرخ الكبير, Giant seaperch, Giant sea-perch, Maan cho, Bekkut, Bekti, Bhekti, Cockup, Dadhara, Durruah, Fitadar, Gariyu, Giant sea perch, Jiteda, Keduwa, Keliji, Khajura, Khajuri, Koduva, Koliji, Nair-meen, Nari-meen, Narimeen, Nuddee-meen, Painnee-meen, Pandu-kopah, Pandu-menu, Cabeh, Cabik, Cukil, Kakap, Kakap puteh, Kanja, Pelak, Petehan, Pica-pica, Pletekan, Siakap, Telah, Tetahan, Akame, Bukai-bukai, Cock-up seaperch, Gelungsung, Kakap putih, Kim bak lor, Seabass, Seaperch, Selungsung, Siakap putih, Silver seaperch, Ka ka tit, Ka-ka-dit, Ka-ka-htit, Ka-kadit, Nga-tha-dite, Apaap, Apahap, Apap, Bolgan, Bulgan, Bulungan, Burgan, Dayang, Kaka, Katuyot, Kulapu, Laya, Mangagat, Mata kuting, Matakating, Matang pusa, Poyo, Salungsungan, Sapan, Solong-solong, Tul-wan, Lates, Perca-gigante, латес, Латес (=баррамунди=окунь белый морской)), окунь белый морской, Perca gigante, Serránido japonés, Modha, Murrabal, Silver perch, White sea bass, Asian seabass, Barramundi perch, Cá Chẽm, Cá Vược