Barramundi, a part of the sea perch family, and the Aboriginal word for "large-scaled silver fish", are prized for their fighting spirit, taste and size . They can be found in coastal areas from the Persian Gulf to southern China and Japan, southern Papua New Guinea and northern Australia, with many fisheries in the Kimberley area of ​​Western Australia. Live in both salt and fresh water; in streams, rivers, lakes, billabongs, estuaries and coastal waters. Barramundi inhabit areas where water temperatures vary between 23 and 35 degrees Celsius. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Barramundis eat almost anything, including other Barramundis, and can consume prey up to 60% of their length. Juveniles eat small fish, aquatic insects and small crustaceans, such as shrimp. Barramundi predators include larger fish, birds, and large reptiles, such as saltwater crocodiles. Growing up to 200cm long and 60kg, Barramundi dominate many fish. Their appearance includes a pointed head, concave forehead, large jaw and rounded tail fin. One of their two dorsal fins has 7 to 8 large, strong spines, while the other includes 10 to 11 rays. Their colors depend on their living situations: freshwater fish are green/blue on the upper body, tail and fins dark brown to black. While saltwater fish have a silver body and yellow fins. Barramundis use what is called the lateral line, which is a sensory organ that runs along both sides of the body. The lateral line allows fish to detect vibrations in the water and thus locate prey and avoid predators. During the rainy season, from October to April, sexually mature Barramundi migrate from freshwater to coastal waters to spawn. Mating usually occurs when tidal activity is strongest. Large females can produce up to 40 million eggs during the spawning season, although 90% of larvae and juveniles die in the first few weeks or months due to disease, becoming prey, or in inhumane environments. 24 hours after fertilization the Barramundi are ready to hatch. High tides and rainy season flooding destroy eggs and larvae in mangrove and tidal habitats. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Larvae remain in mangrove or tidal habitats until the end of the wet season. The young fish then migrate to freshwater rivers and billabongs, where they develop into adults over the course of three to four years. When the fish become sexually mature (between three and five years of age) they migrate back into the salt water to spawn and their life cycle begins again. The age of barramundi can be determined by counting the growth rings on their scales. Barramundis are protandrous hermaphrodites, meaning they change sex from male to female. They become sexually mature as males at around three to four years of age. Males transform into females from five or six years of age and measure approximately 80 cm in length, but require salt water for this sex change. Barramundi are thought to live to be around 20 years old.