Distribution: Common throughout the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Members of the family are found throughout the Indo-Pacific region. In Australia found from Shark Bay in Western Australia across the north of the continent, throughout the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, south through New South Wales and Victoria to eastern South Australia. Two species are considered endemic to Australia. Not recorded from Tasmania or Lord Howe Island.

Ecological Notes: Frequent salt, brackish and fresh water, often far inland especially in northern and eastern Australia. Often observed in estuaries around mangroves and underwater obstructions. Depth to 6 m.

Additional Notes: Silver transparent, faintly yellow inside, often with faint dark spots on head and dorsal surface. Schooling species, sometimes in thousands around underwater obstructions, especially in estuaries. Fish pictured possibly A. jacksoniensis which is endemic to the east coast of Australia. Members of the family grow to 10 cm, usually smaller.

References: Kuiter, R. H., Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Published by Crawford House Press Pty. Ltd., 1993. p. 149.

Atlas of Living Australia website at https://bie.ala.org.au/search?q=ambassis. Accessed 01/06/2019.

FishBase. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. World Wide Web electronic publication. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Ambassis-jacksoniensis.html. Accessed 01/06/2019.