Otolithes ruber, commonly known as the tiger tooth croaker, silver teraglin, wire tooth, snapper Kob, snapper salmon, Yankee whiting or Yankee salmon is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific region. Otolithes ruber has the specific name ruber which means "red", the fish was described as red but is, in fact, silvery.[8]

DESCRIPTION

• Otolithes ruber has a brownish upper body, frequently showing diagonal black streaking, while the lower body is silvery with a gold lustre.

• The anal fin, pectoral fins and pelvic fins are reddish brown.

• The dorsal fin has 10 spines in the first part of the fin, an incision, then a single spine and between 27 and 30 soft rays supporting the fin to the rear of the incision.

• The anal fin is supported by 2 spines and 7 soft rays.

• This species reaches a maximum published total length of 90 cm (35 in), although 40 cm (16 in) is more typical.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

• Otolithes ruber is found in the Indo-West Pacific from South Africa and Madagascar east into the Western Pacific as far as eastern Australia.

• It occurs at depths between 3 and 100 m (9.8 and 328.1 ft) in brackish and marine waters over sand, mud and rock substrates.

MIGRATION

• Amphidromous. Refers to fishes that regularly migrate between freshwater and the sea (in both directions), but not for the purpose of breeding, as in anadromous and catadromous species. Sub-division of diadromous. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

BIOLOGY

• Otolithes ruber feed on planktonic crustaceans near the surface as juveniles and as adults they prey on benthic invertebrates and fishes.

FISHERIES

• Otolithes ruber is caught in mixed species fisheries and as bycatch throughout its range. The fish landed are sold fresh or preserved by drying or salting.