Monodactylus argenteus is a species of fish in the family Monodactylidae, the moonyfishes. Its common names include silver moonyfish, or natal moony,[2]butter bream, and diamondfish.[3] It is native to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans, including the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and associated estuaries, such as the Mekong Delta.[2]
This species reaches a maximum length of about 27 centimeters. It is bright shiny silver with yellowish edges to the fins.[2] The dorsal and anal fins have black tips.[3] Juveniles have more yellow coloration[2] and are distinguished by two vertical black bands.[4]
A school of silver moony fish swimming above corals off the coast of Madagascar.
This species occurs in a wide variety of habitat types, including the open ocean, brackish waters, and the freshwater habitat of rivers.[2] In Australia it can be found in harbors and estuaries around piers.[3] Its ability to survive in a wide range of salinities makes it a model organism in the study of salinity tolerance.[4][5] Juveniles are especially tolerant to salinity changes, easily maintaining homeostasis in variable environments such as estuaries.[4]
Although the silver moony displays territorial behavior,[2] the species can be kept in saltwater aquaria and is easy to rear in captivity.[5] It can remain solitary or form schools. It is a detritivore and planktivore.
