Description:

Dorsal spines: 11 - 13; Dorsal rays: 20-23; Anal spines: 2; Anal rays: 18-23.
Body elongate. Snout pointed. Mouth small and terminal. Villiform teeth in jaws. Scales on cheek. 
A small, sharp spine on opercle. First dorsal fin higher than second. Low Lateral line with 5 to 6 scale rows above it.
Colour. Silvery yellow-brown to light silvery pink dorsally shading to whitish or silvery on lower flanks and ventrally. A midlateral, silvery, longitudinal band normally present. Both dorsal fins and caudal fin dusky, other fins hyaline. Anal fin frequently with a whitish margin
 

Maturity: Lm 22.5 TL. Max Length: 31cm TL. Commonly to 20cm TL. 

Inhabits shallow sandy bottoms of shores and bays, also estuaries (depth 0-60m, usually 0-2m). Form schools. Adults bury themselves in the sand when disturbed. Feeds primarily on small invertebrates. Oviparous. Larvae and juveniles are pelagic feeding on plankton. 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in net fisheries of shallow water and by handline. It is a relatively uncommon component of the catch. 

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. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/4544 (19/08/19).

Smith-Vaniz, W.F. & Sparks, J.S. 2016. Sillago sihama (errata version published in 2017). The IUCN Red List 2016: e.T203423A115349449. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T203423A2765049.en. (19/08/19).