Blackspotted croaker | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Acanthuriformes |
Family: | Sciaenidae |
Genus: | Protonibea Trewavas, 1971 |
Species: | P. diacanthus |
Binomial name | |
Protonibea diacanthus (Lacépède, 1802) | |
Synonyms [2] | |
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The blackspotted croaker (Protonibea diacanthus), also known in Australia as the black jewfish, [3] is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This fish is found in the Indo-Pacific region. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Protonibea.
The blackspotted croaker was first formally described in 1802 as Lutjanus diacanthus by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède without its type locality being given. [4] In 1971 Ethelwynn Trewavas classified this species in the monospecific genus Protonibea. [5] This taxon has been placed in the subfamily Otolithinae by some workers, [6] but the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise subfamilies within the Sciaenidae which it places in the order Acanthuriformes. [7]
Catalog of Fishes mentions that the monspecific genus Megalonibea may be a synonym of Protonibea, however, as Protonibea was proposed as a genus by Ethelwynn Trewavas in 1973 that name would be a junior synonym of Megalonibea, [5] and it is treated as such by other authors. If that is the case then the binomial for this species should be Megalonibea diacantha, with Megalonibea fusca being a synonym of M. diacantha. [8]
The blackspotted croaker's genus name. Protonibea prefixes protos, meaning "first", with Nibea as its wide range and characteristics suggest that it may be close to the ancestral form of Nibea and related genera. The specific name, diacanthus, means "two spined" as Hamilton originally described this species as a snapper in the family Lutjanidae with 2 spines in the anal fin rather than 3. [9]
The blackspotted croaker has the frontmost pores on its chin very close to the tip of the lower jaw and they are joined by a groove. The swimbladder has a shape like a carrot and has branched appendages along the whole of both its sides but none of these goes through the transverse septum. The dorsal fin is divided by an incision with 9 or 10 spines supporting the fin to the front of the incision and a single spine and 22 to 25 soft rays supporting the fin to the rear of the incision. The anal fin has 2 spines and 7 soft rays supporting it. This species reaches a maximum total length of 180 cm (71 in). There are between 3 and 5 broad dark vertical bands on the body and numerous small black spots on the head, dorsal part of the body and the dorsal and caudal fins. These marking fade as the fish grows larger. The pectoral, pelvic, anal and lower caudal fin are dark. [8]
The blackspotted croaker has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution from the Persian Gulf (where it is considered Least Concern) [10] east into the Pacific Ocean where it extends north to Japan and south to northern Australia. In Australia their range extends from Onslow, Western Australia, around the northern tropical coast as far as Mackay, Queensland. [11] It is found in coastal waters, usually no deeper then 60 m (200 ft), over mud substrates. It occasionally enters estuaries and the tidal reaches of rivers. [1]
The fish is considered a delicacy, it is prized in East Asia because even though there is no evidence, some people actually think its organs are medicinal. The fish are most expensive in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Japan. This fish is known locally as Telia in Odia, and in 2020, fishermen from Odisha caught one weighing around 22 kg (48 lb 8 oz). A pharmaceutical company purchased it ₹8000 per kg in an auction. [12] Similarly in 2019, another fishermen from Odisha caught a 10 kg (22 lb) fish and was sold ₹10,000 per kg. [13] In 2024, a Blackspotted croaker weighing around 25.36 kg (55 lb 15 oz) was caught in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh. This exceptional catch garnered interest and fetched a high price, negotiated between ৳375,000 to ৳400,000. [14] In 2023, Gujarat announced Blackspotted croaker as the state fish. [15]
Sciaenidae is a family of ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Acanthuriformes. They are commonly called drums or croakers in reference to the repetitive throbbing or drumming sounds they make. The family consists of about 293 to 298 species in about 66 or 67 genera.
Bahaba is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. These fishes are found in the Indo-West Pacific region.
Boesemania is a monospecific genus of freshwater fish in the family Sciaenidae. This genus contains the single species Boesemania microlepis. Also known as the Boeseman croaker and smallscale croaker, this fish lives in southeast Asian rivers.
Sciaena is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. These fishes are found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Eastern Atlantic Ocean.
Otolithes ruber, commonly known as the tigertooth croaker, silver teraglin, wiretooth, snapper kob, snapper salmon, Yankee whiting or Yankee salmon is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Johnius amblycephalus, the bearded croaker, also known as the green-backed croaker or sharp-nosed jewfish, is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This fish is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Reeve's croaker, also known as the goldbelly croaker, golden corvina, yellowfin croaker or yellowfin corvina, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific region. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Chrysochir.
Argyrosomus inodorus, the mild meagre or silver kob, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. The species is found off southern Africa where it is an important target species for hook and line fisheries.
Johnius is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. They are commonly known as croakers due to their ability to produce purring, croaking and knocking sounds. The sounds are produced mainly at night and are thought to be either involved in defense or for courtship.
Odontoscion dentex, the reef croaker or brown large-eyed croaker, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. It is found in coral and rocky reefs of the tropical Western Atlantic, living as solitary individuals or in small groups at a depth of 1 to 30 m. This species feeds on small fish, shrimp, and larvae.
Argyrosomus hololepidotus, also known as the Madagascar meagre or southern meagre, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. The species is endemic to Madagascar and the Indian Ocean.
The yellowtail croaker, also known as the yellowtail jewfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean off northern Australia and southern New Guinea. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Austronibea.
Eques is a small genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. These fishes are found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.
Johnius dussumieri, the sin croaker, Dussumier's croaker, Dussumier's silver jewfish, sharptooth hammer croaker or whiskered croaker, is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This fish is found in the Indian Ocean.
Johnius carutta, the karut croaker or purple jewfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the western Indian Ocean.
The kathala croaker is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the Indian Ocean off South Asia. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Kathala.
Larimus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the croakers and drums. These fishes are found in the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans.
The cuja bola is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This fish is found in the northern Indian Ocean in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Macrospinosa.
The half-mourning croaker is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Paranibea. This fish is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Protosciaena is a small genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. These fishes are found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.