African Moony

Diagnosis: body very deep (depth greater than body length) and strongly compressed, its anterior profile very steep; head small; eyes large (Ref. 81286, 81657). Mouth small, oblique (Ref. 81286, 81657), maxilla extending beyond level of anterior eye (Ref. 81286). Jaws with villiform teeth; granular teeth present on roof of mouth and tongue (Ref. 81286). Preopercle smooth or with minute serrations; 1st gill arch with 22-27/1/7-11 (total 31-37) gill rakers (Ref. 81657). Dorsal and anal fins triangular (Ref. 81657), long-based and very high anteriorly (Ref. 81286, 81657). Only tip of dorsal fin spines visible (Ref. 81286, 81657). Pectoral fins short; pelvic fins present in young individuals, rudimentary or absent in adults (Ref. 81286). Scales covering all of body, head and bases of dorsal and anal fins (Ref. 81286, 81657). About 50 tubed scales in lateral line (Ref. 81286). Caudal fin slightly emarginated (Ref. 81657).Coloration: silvery grey/brownish (Ref. 81286, 81657), somewhat darker dorsally (Ref. 81657), with 4 dark brownish-black/soot-coloured vertical bars, more distinct in young individuals (Ref. 81286, 81657) and already fading or almost absent at >50 mm SL (Ref. 81657), 1st at level of eye, 2nd between dorsal- and anal-fin origins, 3rd between tips of these fins, and 4th on caudal peduncle (Ref. 81286, 81657). In adults, dorsal and anal fin tips, basal part of dorsal and anal fins and hind caudal edge blackish; dorsal and anal fin edge and basal part of caudal fin pale; pectoral fins smoky grey to white or even transparent (Ref. 81657).

Costia Disease. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)

Bacterial Infections (general). Bacterial diseases

Distinct pairing (Ref. 205). After a stormy courtship a female lays 15,000 or more eggs which hatch in 24 hours (Ref. 7020).

Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 32 - 38; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 36 - 38

Feeds on fish, shrimps and zooplankton (Ref. 28587).

Very common in estuaries and lagoons (Ref. 2683, 81286, 81657) where reproduction takes place, marshes and lower courses of rivers, sometimes ascending over long distances into freshwater (Ref. 81286, 81657). Also lives in the sea, mainly in shallow bays and harbour areas (Ref. 81286). Sometimes found in shoals composed of several hundred individuals (Ref. 81657). Feeds on fish, shrimps, zooplankton (Ref. 28587, 81657) and various small invertebrates (Ref. 81657). Neither anterolateral glandular groove nor venom gland is present (Ref. 57406). Maximum reported standard length 200 mm (Ref. 81657).

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: unknown; price reliability:

Monodactylus sebae, the African moony, is a species of moonyfish native to fresh, brackish and marine waters from the eastern Atlantic, ranging from the Canary Islands down to Angola. It inhabits mangrove swamps and estuaries and can occasionally be found in lagoons. This species can reach a length of 25 centimetres (9.8 in) TL though most do not exceed 15 centimetres (5.9 in). It can also be found in the aquarium trade.