Description:

Dorsal spines: 7-8; Dorsal soft rays: 27-31; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 27-32.
Body oval, deep (body depth 1.2 to 1.6 times in standard length), strongly compressed. Eye moderately large. Mouth small and oblique. Jaws with bands of small conical teeth. Anterior rays of soft dorsal and anal fins elongated, anal rays more elongate than dorsal. Posterior edge of dorsal and anal fins concave. Pelvic fins rudimentary or absent in adults. Caudal fin slightly emarginate. 
Colour. Adults silvery, tip of dorsal and anal fins dusky. Posterior portions of soft dorsal and anal fins translucent. Pectoral and caudal fins hyaline. Small juveniles have yellow dorsal and caudal fins and two vertical bars on the head, a curved black vertical bar through eye and the other in front of pectoral-fin base and continuing down the anterior edge if anal fin. 
 

Maturity: Lm 13cm SL. Range unknown. Max Length: 27cm SL. 

Inhabits estuaries, lagoons and silty reefs, usually in shallow water (depth 0-12m). Often in schools. Common around jetties and wharf pilings, floating or sunken logs and branches. Feeds on plankton and detritus.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in net fisheries and is an occasionally abundant component of the catch. 

Azeroual, A. et al 2017. Monodactylus argenteus. The IUCN Red List 2017: e.T166925A46644370. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T166925A46644370.en. (31/07/19).

Bray, D.J. Monodactylus argenteus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/581 (31/07/19).

Fischer, W. & G. Bianchi (eds), (1984).  FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean; (Fishing Area 51). Prepared and printed with the support of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Rome, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, vols 1-6.

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2019. FishBase. http://fishbase.mnhn.fr/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=5807 (31/07/19).