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Chinese silver pomfret (Pampus chinensis) — Stromateidae

Chinese silver pomfret

Pampus chinensis
Family: Stromateidae

The Chinese silver pomfret (Pampus chinensis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Stromateidae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
40 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
10.0–? m
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Chinese silver pomfret is a butterfish (Stromateidae) from coastal and estuarine water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 40 cm and has a deep, almost circular, strongly compressed, mirror-silver body without pelvic fins and with sickle-shaped fins. It swims in schools in turbid coastal water and eats jellyfish, small zooplankton and small invertebrates. It is a highly valued food fish. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Chinese silver pomfret?

The Chinese silver pomfret has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Chinese silver pomfret live?

The Chinese silver pomfret lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Chinese silver pomfret get?

The Chinese silver pomfret grows to a maximum of about 40 cm. On average the species is around 20 cm.

Is the Chinese silver pomfret dangerous to humans?

No, the Chinese silver pomfret is harmless to humans.

Is the Chinese silver pomfret edible?

Yes, the Chinese silver pomfret is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Chinese botervis sourced
English name
Chinese silver pomfret sourced
Scientific name
Pampus chinensis
Family
Stromateidae
Other names
Chinese pomfret; Chinese silver pomfret verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
40.0 verified
Average length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Pampus

More from the family Stromateidae

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