Fish · GBIF taxon 2393172
Northern Barramundi
Lates calcariferAlso known as Asian Sea Bass, Giant Sea Perch, Asian Sea Lates
Northern barramundi are formidable catadromous predators that migrate from freshwater rivers down to coastal estuaries to spawn during the rainy season. Young fish are protandrous hermaphrodites, maturing first as males before transforming into large breeding females after several years. Their silvery bodies, concave heads, and pinkish reflective eyes make them unmistakable residents of mangrove snags and tidal creeks.
CatadromousPredatoryGame Fish
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Small Fish
- Prawns
- Crabs
Predators
- Saltwater Crocodile
- Bull Shark
- Osprey
ThreatsOverfishing, dam construction, habitat degradation
HabitatsRivers, estuaries, mangroves, coastal reefs
Life span15–20 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPerciformes
- FamilyLatidae
- GenusLates
- SpeciesLates calcarifer
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Razor-sharp gill covers and fin spines can cause deep cuts; handle carefully when landing.
- Why it is dangerous
- Possesses razor-sharp preoperculum gill plates and rigid fin spines capable of inflicting deep lacerations.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a silver-grey torpedo-shaped body, large bucket mouth, and concave head profile.
- What to do
- Use a specialized lip-gripping tool and avoid grabbing near the head or gill covers.
Responsible observation
- Handling: Use a fish grip tool and landing net, keeping hands clear of the sharp gill plates.
- Angling: Employ abrasion-resistant leaders to prevent their sharp gill covers from slicing lines.
- Observation: Look for them lurking around submerged logs, rock bars, and mangrove roots at high tide.
Predator (c) Bernard DUPONT, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion (c) Ewout Knoester, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Ewout Knoester · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Daiju Azuma, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableClose Relative
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