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Common along beaches, sandbars, mangrove creeks and estuaries. Recorded from freshwater. Form schools. Adults bury themselves in the sand when disturbed (Ref. 6205, 44894). Feed mainly on polychaete worms, small prawns (<i>Penaeus</i>), shrimps and amphipods (Ref. 6226, 6227, 44894). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Larvae and juveniles are pelagic feeding on planktonic (Ref. 43081). Rarely captured by prawn trawling vessels. Marketed fresh and frozen (Ref. 9987).

Found inshore (Ref. 75154). Inhabit sandy areas in sea inlets (Ref. 9137). Common along beaches, sandbars, mangrove creeks and estuaries. Recorded from freshwater. Form schools. Adults bury themselves in the sand when disturbed (Refs. 6205, 9773). Feed mainly on polychaete worms, small prawns (<i>Penaeus</i>), shrimps and amphipods (Refs. 6226, 6227, 9773). Larvae and juveniles are pelagic feeding on plankton (Ref. 43081). Benthic shoaling species. Known to burrow in the sand to feed and hide from predators (Ref. 9773).

Diagnosis: Sillago sihama is distinguished by dorsal-fin rays XI + I, 20 – 23; anal-fin rays II, 21 – 23; 66 – 74 scales in the lateral line; 4 – 5 scales above the lateral line; 3 – 4 + 8 – 9 gill rakers on the first arch; 12 – 15 (mostly 14) abdominal, 5 – 10 (mostly 8) modified, 11 – 16 (mostly 13) caudal and 32 – 35 (mostly 35) total vertebrae. The body is brownish dorsally, silver ventrally; area between posterior nostril and dorsoanterior edge of orbit unpigmented; first dorsal fin with black pigment on first two membranes at spine tips; anal fin lacking black dots. The swimbladder is long with two anterior extensions, two posterior extensions without a lacuna at the base; the anterolateral extension of the swimbladder extends into the anterior short blind tubule and posterior one kinked, long and complex, and 10 – 11 lateral processes. The general body shape is shown in Figure 1 A – C. Counts and measurements are given in Table 2. Frequency distribution for meristic counts is given in Table 3. Color of fresh specimens (Fig. 1 A & B): The body is unmarked, brownish, silvery gray or silvery tan dorsally, silver on sides and ventrally. Area between posterior nostril and dorsoanterior edge of orbit unpigmented. First dorsal fin with some dusky pigment on the membranes, first two membranes much darker at spine tips; membranes of the second dorsal fin with dusky pigment adjacent anteriorly to each ray. The anal fin is light yellowish to whitish without black dots, with a white margin along anterior one-third of the fin. The caudal fin is light yellowish, usually blackish along dorsal and ventral edges of each lobe. Pectoral and pelvic fins are light yellowish. Swimbladder (Fig. 2 A & B): The swimbladder is long. Two anterior extensions are divided and end on each side of the basioccipital over the auditory capsule. An anterolateral extension originates anteriorly on both sides of the swimbladder and then bifurcates into anterior and posterior subextensions. The ant