Silver Javelin

Pomadasys argenteus is a silvery-mauve to pale brown fish fading to silvery-white towards the abdomen, there is occasionally a scattering of dark greyish spots on the back and upper flanks. The snout is dark brown snout, the upper operculum is dark greyish to purplish on its upper part. The pelvic and anal fins are yellow while the dorsal fin has rows of small spots along it. The juveniles have many spots which create a pattern of dark lines along the flanks. It has a blunt snout and a small mouth with brush like bands of teeth on the jaws. The dorsal fin has 12 spines and 13-14 soft rays, while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 7 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 70 cm (28 in), although 25 cm (9.8 in) is more typical.

Pomadasys argenteus has a wide distribution in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. It occurs from the southern Red Sea, off Saudi Arabia and Yemen east to Vanuatu, north to southern Japan and south to Australia. It is absent from the Persian Gulf. In Australia they are found from the Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia across the northern part of the continent to the Richmond River in New South Wales.