WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Spotted Scat

Scatophagus argus

Also known as: Argus Fish, Butterfish, Common Scat, Leopard Scat, Spadefish, Spotted Butterfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2010
VenomousKeep your distance
Adult
@pm · marriott hotel, Australia · January 20151 / 13
01

Overview

Found in small schools, in shallow, brackish and freshwaters of estuaries, harbours, mangroves and streams.

These are small fish that are often found in the aquarium trade.
They can live in fresh water but prefer murky salty waters.
Their name Scatophagus means "faeces eater" because they sometimes eat human faeces!

02

How to identify

Behaviour
schooling

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Exact location · 1
  • Country only · 12
LIVES IN

Found in small schools, in shallow, brackish and freshwaters of estuaries, harbours, mangroves and streams.

04

Adult photos 13

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderAcanthuriformes
    5. familyScatophagidae
    6. genusScatophagus
    7. speciesScatophagus argus (Linnaeus, 1766)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Acanthuriformes