Rough whiting

Sillago nierstraszi

Tropical
Regional distribution
Marine fish
Pacific Ocean
Elongated
Medium
Tropical fish

The rough whiting (Sillago nierstraszi) is a dubious species of coastal marine fish in the smelt-whiting family Sillaginidae. The species is known only from the holotype which was collected in 1941 on the south coast of Papua New Guinea, but is thought to be lost. S. nierstraszi is currently a valid species, although during his revision of the sillaginids, Roland McKay suggested the species to be a senior synonym of Sillago analis.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Surgeonfishes and Allies
Family: Sillaginidae
Genus: Sillago
Maximum length: 25 cm
Water: Marine
Body shape: elongated
Distribution: Western Central Pacific: southern New Guinea. Known only from the holotype which could not be located. In most features, this species is similar to Sillago analis and may prove to be a senior synonym. Further collection is necessary to resolve the identity of this species.

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