Distribution:
Worldwide in warm waters.
Habitat:
Marine, brackish and freshwater, usually over soft bottoms.
Remarks:
Tripletails are so-named for the round lobes on the dorsal and anal fins, giving the appearance that the fishes have three tails. There is "scooped" snout profile with the eyes near the dorsum.
In some species the juveniles can camouflage themselves by turning over on their sides and floating like leaves. The maximum length is 110 cm. The family comprises two genera, Datnioides and Lobotes, with about 5 species.
References: Carpenter, pp. 2942-2945, in: Carpenter & Niem 2001;
Nelson 2006