Thai whiting  The Thai whiting, "Sillago intermedius", is a species of coastal marine fish of the smelt-whiting family Sillaginidae. The Thai whiting ranges from the west coast of India to the Gulf of Thailand in the east, inhabiting silty substrates in shallow waters. First identified in 1977 from a specimen found in a fish market, the species has had little research performed on its biology, and is frequently misidentified as "Sillago sihama" or "Sillago maculata" Thai whiting are commonly caught by fishermen throughout their range and are marketed fresh locally. The Thai whiting is one of 29 species in the genus "Sillago", which is one of three divisions of the smelt whiting family Sillaginidae. The smelt-whitings are Perciformes in the suborder Percoidea. The species was first recognized and named "Sillago intermedius" by Wongratana in 1977 after a number of unknown sillaginid individuals were found in a Thai fish market whilst Wongratana was collecting specimens of sillaginids to be sent to McKay for his review of the Sillaginidae. He based his description on a specimen taken from the east coast of Thailand in 1977, which was allocated to be the holotype. The species has been subsequently misidentified as "Sillago maculata", as the blotches on the species are fairly similar. As with most of the genus "Sillago", the Thai whiting has a slightly compressed, elongate body tapering toward the terminal mouth. The body is covered in small ctenoid scales extending to the two rows of cheek scales and head. The first dorsal fin has 11 spines and the second dorsal fin has 1 leading spine with 21 to 22 soft rays posterior. The anal fin is similar to the second dorsal fin, but has 2 spines with 21 to 22 soft rays posterior to the spines. Other distinguishing features include 67 to 70 lateral line scales and a total of 34 vertebrae. The species has a known maximum length of 20 cm. The swim bladder has two anterior extensions which extend forward and diverge before terminating above the auditory capsule. Two lateral extensions commence anteriorly, sending tubules to the anterior and extending below the abdominal wall adjacent to the swimbladder. There are also two posterior extensions which project into the post-coelomic region. The morphology of the swim-bladder is quite similar to "S. sihama", but the tubules are very simple, unlike "S. sihama" which has complexly folded extensions.