Three-Lined Grunter

Terapon puta, commonly referred to as the spiny-checked grunter, three-lined grunter, small-scaled banded grunter, small-scaled terapon, squeaking perch, or two-lined grunter, is a notable species of fish indigenous to the Indo-Pacific region. This species is a member of the grunter family, Terapontidae. Additionally, it has migrated into the eastern Mediterranean Sea from the 🌊 Red Sea via the Suez Canal (🇪🇬 Egypt), a phenomenon known as Lessepsian migration.

The morphology of Terapon puta is characterized by an elongated and slightly compressed body. Its dorsal fin is continuous, albeit exhibiting a distinct notch between the spiny anterior segment and the softer, rayed posterior segment. The spiny section is notably arched, and the membranes between the spines are subtly incised. The penultimate dorsal spine is significantly shorter than the last spine. The caudal fin is truncated. The species possesses a terminal mouth, with jaws extending to align with the posterior nostril. It has two rows of teeth within the jaws; the outer row consists of strong conical teeth, while the inner row is composed of villiform (brush-like) teeth, arranged in bands. The species lacks teeth on the vomer or palatine bones. The preoperculum is serrated, and two spines on the operculum align with the eye, with the lower spine extending as far as or beyond the opercular margin.

Terapon puta exhibits a silvery-grey coloration with four longitudinal, parallel stripes extending from the head to the caudal fin. The upper three stripes are black, while the lowest stripe is paler, varying between yellowish and brown. A prominent black spot is located on the upper part of the anterior dorsal fin. The fish reaches a maximum standard length of 15 cm, although it is more commonly found between 5 and 12 cm.

Geographically, Terapon puta is distributed across the Indo-Pacific region, stretching from the 🌊 Red Sea south to Zanzibar and throughout the 🌊 Indian Ocean to the 🇵🇭 Philippines and northern 🇦🇺 Australia. It was first documented in the Mediterranean in the Bardawil Lagoon on the north of the Sinai Peninsula, 🇪🇬 Egypt, in 1976, followed by records off Libya in 1977 and Alexandria in 1994. It is now widespread in the southeastern Mediterranean.

Adult Terapon puta inhabit coastal waters, frequently entering brackish estuaries, mangroves, and even freshwater environments. Their diet consists of fish and invertebrates. Reproduction occurs during the summer months, with males assuming the responsibility of guarding the eggs and fanning water over them to facilitate an adequate oxygen supply.