Tigerperches

Terapontidae

The family Terapontidae, known commonly as grunters or tigerperches, encompasses a diverse group of ray-finned fishes that fall under the superfamily Percoidea within the order Perciformes. This family, comprising small to medium-sized perciform fishes, is indigenous to the Indo-Pacific and is well-adapted to a myriad of aquatic environments including marine, brackish, and freshwater habitats.

Morphologically, Terapontidae species exhibit a singular lengthy dorsal fin that is characterized by a distinctive notch demarcating the spiny anterior portion from the posterior soft-rayed part. Their scales range from small to moderate in size, and a continuous lateral line extends to the caudal fin. Interestingly, the majority of species within this family do not possess dentition on the palatine or vomer, commonly referred to as the roof of the mouth.

The marine representatives of this family typically inhabit inshore and brackish waters, while certain species demonstrate a remarkable degree of euryhalinity, enabling them to thrive in both highly saline environments and freshwater systems. In the regions of 🇦🇺 Australia and 🇵🇬 New Guinea, several species have evolved to exist exclusively within freshwater ecosystems.