Description
As with most of the genus Sillago, the western trumpeter whiting has a slightly compressed, elongate body tapering toward the terminal mouth, reaching a maximum overall length of 36 cm. The body is covered in small ctenoid scales extending to the cheek and head. The first dorsal fin has 11 spines and the second dorsal fin has 1 leading spine with 19 to 21 soft rays posterior. The anal fin is similar to the second dorsal fin, but has 2 spines with 18 to 20 soft rays posterior to the spines. Other distinguishing features include 69 to 76 lateral line scales and a total of 34 to 36 vertebrae. The species has a known maximum length of 36 cm.
Swim bladder morphology is the most effective way to distinguish it between related species S. maculata and S. aeolus. The swim bladder has far reduced anterolateral extensions of swim bladder compared to S. maculata and differs from S. aeolus in having two extensions, not three.
The western trumpeter whiting has very similar in coloration to S. aeolus and S. maculata, with only minor differences between the species. The body is an overall light sandy brown, being darker above and paler on the lower sides, with a silver mid line of the belly. The darker and lighter regions of the body are separated by a dull silver longitudinal band positioned mid laterally on the side of the body. In S. burrus the blotches are like oblique bars and they are not joined as in S. maculata. There is an indistinct black spot at the base of the pectoral fin and the upper and lower margins of the caudal fin are not as dark as in S. maculata. The abdominal walls are usually white or silvery, where they are pale flesh coloured in the other trumpeter whitings.
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