Grunters

Coastal marine, brackish and freshwater in the Indo-West Pacific. Several species restricted to freshwater. Body oblong and slightly compressed. Operculum bearing 2 spines (lower spine longer). Dorsal fin notched, the spinous part depressible into a basal scaly sheath; spines 11-13; soft rays 9-11. Three spines in anal fin; soft rays 7-10. Pelvic fins insertion behind base of pectorals; one spine, 5 soft rays. Caudal fin rounded, truncate or emarginate with 15 branched rays. Lateral line uninterrupted, reaching on caudal fin. Jaws with villiform or incisiform teeth; vomer and palatines toothless in most species. Branchiostegal rays 6; gills 4, a slit behind the last. Vertebrae 25-27. About 80 cm maximum length. Also spelled Teraponidae, Theraponidae or Therapontidae.