Terapontidae, Richardson, 1842

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 828

Family Terapontidae

Grunters

The family comprises approximately 60 species in 16 genera, endemic to the Indo-Pacific region. Grunters and sunfishes (see above) are classified within the order Centrarchiformes , which includes a diverse range of marine perch-like fish. Other freshwater perches in this order include the Sinipercidae and Percichthyidae . Grunters can be distinguished from superficially similar cichlids by a single continuous lateral line on the flank (vs. two lateral lines). Most grunters are marine, although some enter freshwater habitats for feeding. A few Australian species are freshwater residents. The name “grunter” is derived from the sound these fish produce, which is audible to humans. One species is known to enter freshwaters in West Asia regularly. Further reading. Nelson 2006 (diversity).