| Leiopotherapon plumbeus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leiopotherapon plumbeus being sold in a Philippine market. | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Centrarchiformes |
| Family: | Terapontidae |
| Genus: | Leiopotherapon |
| Species: | L. plumbeus |
| Binomial name | |
| Leiopotherapon plumbeus (Kner, 1864) | |
| Synonyms | |
Datnia plumbea Kner, 1864 | |
Leiopotherapon plumbeus, known commonly as thesilver perch,[1] is a species ofray-finned fish in the familyTerapontidae, the grunters. It isendemic to thePhilippines, where it is calledayungin,bugaong,bigaong, andbagaong.[1]
This species reaches 16 centimeters in maximum length.[2]
The species exhibits paternal care, as the male guards and tends the eggs.[2]
The fish is caught and consumed locally as food. It is considered to be one of the most delicious of the native freshwater fish in the Philippines. The supply has run thin due to overharvesting, and it is now rare in markets, making it quite expensive.[3]
The fish is also used to feedducks.[3]
Populations have declined due tooverfishing.[3] In 1991 it was the most abundant fish inLaguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines; by 2002 it was the third most abundant.Sedimentation andpollution contribute to the population drop in the lake.[4]
The fish is being reared incaptive breeding projects, in which it grows well on a diet ofprawn food andtubifex worms.[3] It is dosed withhormones to inducespawning.[5]
