Taxonomy and Distribution of Indo-Pacifi c Lates

Lates calcarifer is among the most important food fi shes in tropical Australasia and Asian countries bordering the Indian Ocean (Yingthavorn 1951, Rabanal and Soesanto 1982, Pender and Griffi n 1996, Rimmer and Russell 1998). This species has been recorded to attain a body weight in excess of 44 kg and reach a total length of more than 135 cm in Australia (IGFA 2011). Lates calcarifer has long been a species of cultural and economic signifi cance (e.g., it fi gures in Australian aboriginal rock art dating 15,000-8,000 ybp: Chaloupka 1997) and is an important component of recreational and commercial fi sheries and aquaculture throughout its entire geographical distribution. The existence of as many as 75 local names (Mathew 2009, FAO 2011) in 14 of the countries within its range (Fig. 1.1) is additional evidence of its popularity as a species of commercial signifi cance.