In the spotlight
What is El Niño?
A new El Niño event, described as “very strong”, is set to occur from this spring onwards.
Identity card
Spotted scat
- Scientific name:
- Scatophagus argus
- Family:
- Scatophagidae
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Year of description:
- 1766 (Linnaeus)
- IUCN Status:
- Least Concern
- Distribution:
-
Indo-Pacific: from Kuwait to Fiji, southern Japan, New Caledonia
- Habitat:
-
Brackish estuaries, mangroves, river mouths, up to 5 m deep.
- Size:
20 cm, up to 45 cm.
- Diet:
-
Worms, crustaceans, insects, plant matter.
