Nibea is derived from a Japanese word referring to large Sciaenids and for the isinglass, manufactured from their swim bladders, used in binding bamboo rods together.[5]
Nibea croakers have the first pair of pores on the chin set closely together, immediately to the rear of the symphysis of the lower jaw, and connected by a crescent-shaped groove. The teeth in the lower jaw are not uniform in size. The swim bladder has a shape like a carrot and has branched appendages along the whole of both its sides and the most forward of these goes through the transverse septum.[7] The type species is the largest member of the genus, with a maximum published standard length of 75 cm (30 in) while the smallscale croaker (N. leptolepis) with a maximum published standard length of 22 cm (8.7 in) is the smallest member.[6]
Distribution
Nibea croakers are found in the Indo-Pacific region from Pakistan[7] east to New Guinea, south to Australia and north to Japan.[6]