Monodactylus argenteus

Monodactylus argenteus is a species of fish in the family Monodactylidae, the moonyfishes. Its common names include silver moonyfish, or silver 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]

Monodactylus argenteus
Monodactylus argenteus, commonly known as the silver moony,Mono angel
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Monodactylidae
Genus:	Monodactylus
Species:	M. argenteus
Binomial name
Monodactylus argenteus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Chaetodon argenteus Linnaeus, 1758 Psettus argenteus (Linnaeus, 1758) Scomber rhombeus Forsskål, 1775 Psettus rhombeus (Forsskål, 1775)

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.

The myxozoan parasite Kudoa monodactyli was first described from and named after this fish.[6]