Glassfishes
Glass perchlets or glassfishes are members of Ambassidae (Chandidae) family. They are distributed mainly in Asia and Oceania waters. They are identified as a family by their small and semitransparent body, and their single deeply notched dorsal fin. They are distinguished from cardinalfishes by having 3 anal spines and a single dorsal fin.
Most species occur in shallow depth of coastal waters, mangrove shores and brackish estuaries, although some live entirely in freshwater rivers. They are mostly nocturnal, spending the day among the roots of mangrove trees, log snags, and aquatic plants in resting aggregations. They disperse at night to feed on small crustaceans, aquatic and terrestrial insects, small fishes, fish eggs and larvae.
There are 8 genera and about 48 species worldwide. Malaysia is represented by 3 genera and about 12 species.
Most species occur in shallow depth of coastal waters, mangrove shores and brackish estuaries, although some live entirely in freshwater rivers. They are mostly nocturnal, spending the day among the roots of mangrove trees, log snags, and aquatic plants in resting aggregations. They disperse at night to feed on small crustaceans, aquatic and terrestrial insects, small fishes, fish eggs and larvae.
There are 8 genera and about 48 species worldwide. Malaysia is represented by 3 genera and about 12 species.
Scientific Name: Ambassis buruensis Bleeker, 1856
English Name: Buru Glass Perchlet
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Seriding Buru, Pridin
Bahasa Indonesia: Ikan Kaca, Seriding
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาแป้นแก้ว (Plā pæ̂n kæ̂w)
Main Identification Features: Mouth small, maxilla not exceeding beyond the vertical front border of eye. First dorsal spine short. Dorsal-fin membrane between the second and third spines black. Caudal fin deeply forked with yellowish and black hind margin.
Size: Maximum total length 8.2 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal, estuary and freshwater, in shallow depths.
Scientific Name: Ambassis gymnocephalus (Lacepède, 1802)
English Name: Bald Glassy, Naked-head Glassy Perchlet
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Seriding Putih, Seriding Botak, Pridin
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาขี้จีนยาว (Plā k̄hī̂ cīn yāw)
Size: Maximum total length 16.0 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal, estuary and freshwater, in shallow depths.
Scientific Name: Ambassis vachellii Richardson, 1846
English Name: Vachelli's Glass Perchlet, Telkara Perchlet
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Seriding, Pridin
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาขี้จิน (Plā k̄hī̂ cīn)
Size: Maximum standard length 6.5 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Brackish waters to freshwater.
English Name: Buru Glass Perchlet
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Seriding Buru, Pridin
Bahasa Indonesia: Ikan Kaca, Seriding
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาแป้นแก้ว (Plā pæ̂n kæ̂w)
Main Identification Features: Mouth small, maxilla not exceeding beyond the vertical front border of eye. First dorsal spine short. Dorsal-fin membrane between the second and third spines black. Caudal fin deeply forked with yellowish and black hind margin.
Size: Maximum total length 8.2 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal, estuary and freshwater, in shallow depths.
Scientific Name: Ambassis gymnocephalus (Lacepède, 1802)
English Name: Bald Glassy, Naked-head Glassy Perchlet
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Seriding Putih, Seriding Botak, Pridin
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาขี้จีนยาว (Plā k̄hī̂ cīn yāw)
Size: Maximum total length 16.0 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal, estuary and freshwater, in shallow depths.
Scientific Name: Ambassis vachellii Richardson, 1846
English Name: Vachelli's Glass Perchlet, Telkara Perchlet
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Seriding, Pridin
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาขี้จิน (Plā k̄hī̂ cīn)
Size: Maximum standard length 6.5 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Brackish waters to freshwater.
