Description:

Dorsal spines: 9; Dorsal rays: 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 7.

Body somewhat oblong and compressed. Anterodorsal profile gently convex. U-shaped premaxilla groove mostly without scales. Posterior tip of maxilla extending beyond front of 
eye. Pectoral fin reaching to just above anus; caudal fin deeply forked, its lobes long.

Colour. Body brownish silver above grading to brilliant silver below, sometimes with 6-8 faint dark vertical bands on sides (usually more apparent in young specimens). 
Prominent black tip to spinous part of dorsal fin, usually confined to distal part of 2nd to 5th spines but sometimes continuing as a darker margin along whole of dorsal 
fin. A row of small dusky spots basally on dorsal-fin membrane. Anal and pelvic fins yellowish. Caudal fin uniformly dusky.

Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 30cm TL. Commonly to 20cm SL.

Found along the coast, reef associated species often in inshore areas on silty sand substrates (depth 0-20m). Occurs singly or in groups. Feeds on small benthic invertebrates 
living in sandy bottoms.
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in net fisheries, where on occasion it can be quite abundant.

Abdulqader, E. et al. (2015). Gerres oyena. The IUCN Red List 2015: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/166919/57104873 (08/04/20).
Bray, D.J. Gerres oyena in Fishes of Australia, http://136.154.202.208/home/species/447 (08/04/20).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2020). FishBase. Gerres oyena https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5996 (04/04/20).
Iwatsuki, Y. et al. (1999). Redescriptions of Gerres baconensis (Evermann & Seale, 1907), G. equulus Temminck & Schlegel, 1844 and G. oyena (Forsskål, 1775), included in 
the "G. oyena complex", with notes on other related species (Perciformes: Gerreidae). Ichthyol. Res. 46(4):377-395.
Woodland, D.J. (1984). Gerreidae. In W. Fischer and G. Bianchi (eds.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean fishing area 51. Vol. 2. 
[pag. var.]. FAO, Rome.

Nevill, J.E.G. (2020). Gerres oyena, Common silver-biddy. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/gerres-oyena-forsskal-1775/ (edited 10/07/22).