Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Gerreidae
- Genus
- Gerres
- Species
- phaiya
Habitat
This species inhabits coastal waters, estuaries, and shallow inshore areas over sandy or muddy substrates. It prefers warm tropical and subtropical regions in the Indian Ocean, including areas around India, the Bay of Bengal, and the Andaman Sea. They are often found in schools near the shore or in mangroves.
Diet
The strong spine silver biddy feeds primarily on small crustaceans, worms, and other benthic invertebrates, as well as some plant material. It forages in schools during daylight hours, sifting through sand and mud for food. Feeding activity peaks at dawn and dusk in shallow waters.
Behavior
This fish is highly schooling, forming large groups for protection and feeding in coastal areas. It is diurnal, active during the day and resting at night, with territorial behavior observed when defending feeding spots. They exhibit quick, darting movements to evade predators.
Conservation Status
Listed as Not Evaluated by IUCN.