| Giant African threadfin | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Polynemidae |
| Genus: | Polydactylus |
| Species: | P. quadrifilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Polydactylus quadrifilis (Cuvier, 1829) | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
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The giant African threadfin (Polydactylus quadrifilis) is a species of ray-finned fish from the threadfin family Polynemidae. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa.
The giant African threadfin is, as its common name indicates, a large species of threadfin attaining a maximum total length of 200 centimetres (79 in), although the more common size is 150 centimetres (59 in). [2] It has a pointed snout and an almost straight dorsal profile on the head. It has two separate dorsal fins; the first has eight spines with the second spine thicker than the rest, and the second dorsal fin contains a single spine and thirteen soft rays. The anal fin has three spines and eleven soft rays, its base approximately equal in length to the base of the second dorsal fin. The pectoral fin has twelve or thirteen unbranched rays, and measures 20 to 24% of the standard length of the fish, its tip not extending as far as the tip of the pelvic fin. There are four pectoral filaments with the first being the shortest; the first three filaments extend past the origin of the pelvic fin but not as far as its tip. The fourth pectoral filament is the longest, being 27 to 39% of the standard length and reaching at least to the tip of the pelvic fin. The caudal fin is deeply forked and has non-filamentous long lobes. There are 70*71 pored scales in the lateral line which is simple and runs from the upper end of the gill slit to the upper end of the lower lobe of the caudal fin. The head and upper flanks are silver with a blackish tint, paler on the lower flanks and white on the breast and belly. The snout is semi-transparent. The dorsal fins and caudal fin are pale with blackish rear margins. The pectoral fin is bright yellow and the pectoral filaments are white. The pelvic and anal fins are dusky with white on the front edge and at their bases. [3]
The giant African threadfin occurs in the tropical eastern Atlantic Ocean off the coast of western Africa from Senegal to Congo. There is a single record from Mauritania. [1]
The giant African threadfin is found in shallow coastal waters where there are sandy and muddy bottoms and is occasionally recorded in brackish waters. It will enters estuaries and is rarely taken in fresh water but the largest individuals are only recorded from marine waters. This carnivorous fish east crustaceans and fishes. [2]
The giant African threadfin is a highly sought after species for commercial and sport fisheries. [3]
The giant African threadfin was first formally described by Georges Cuvier in Histoire naturelle des poissons. Tome troisième. Suite du Livre troisième. Des percoïdes à dorsale unique à sept rayons branchiaux et à dents en velours ou en cardes co-authored with Achille Valenciennes. The name Cuvier gave it was Polynemus quadrifilis and the type locality was given as Senegal. [4]
Threadfins are silvery grey perciform fish of the family Polynemidae. Found in tropical to subtropical waters throughout the world, the threadfin family contains eight genera and about 40 species. An unrelated species sometimes known by the name threadfin, Alectis indicus, is properly the Indian threadfish.
The Atlantic threadfin is a species of ray-finned fish a threadfin from the family Polynemidae which is native to subtropical and temperate waters of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
Eleutheronema tetradactylum, the fourfinger threadfin, known as ranwas in Pakistan, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a threadfin from the family Polynemidae which occurs in the Indian and western Pacific Ocean.
Nemipterus virgatus, the golden threadfin bream or yellowlipped threadfin bream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams. This species is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.
The longfin trevally, also known as the longfin kingfish, longfin cavalla or armed trevally, is a species of inshore marine fish in the jack family, Carangidae. The species is common in tropical to subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific, ranging from South Africa in the west to Japan in the east, typically inhabiting inshore reefs and bays. The species is easily distinguished by its elongate dorsal and anal fin lobes and filamentous dorsal rays, as well as its scaleless breast. Longfin trevally are pelagic predators, taking a variety of small fish, cephalopods and crustaceans, and reach sexual maturity at around 21 cm. The species has a maximum known length of 57 cm and weight of 3.5 kg. The longfin trevally has a very complex taxonomic history which is closely intertwined with another currently valid species, Carangoides ciliarius, which may yet prove to be synonymous. Longfin trevally are of minor importance to fisheries throughout their range and are considered good table fish, and are occasionally taken by anglers.
Polydactylus sexfilis, the six-finger threadfin or yellowthread threadfin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a threadfin from the family Polynemidae which is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
The king threadfin, also known as the blind salmon, blink tassel-fish, burnett salmon, gold threadfin, king salmon, kingfish, Sheridan threadfin, triped tassel fish, or threadfin salmon, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a threadfin from the family Polynemidae which is found in southern New Guinea and northern Australia.
The Indian threadfin is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the family Polynemidae, the threadfins. It is a coastal species from south-east Asia which has been recorded in Papua New Guinea.
Polynemus multifilis, the elegant paradise fish is a species of ray-finned fish, a threadfin from the family Polynemidae which is found in rivers in southeast Asia.
Polynemus aquilonaris, commonly known as the northern paradise fish, is a fish of the threadfin family Polynemidae. It is native to the large rivers of mainland Southeast Asia.
Polydactylus sextarius, the blackspot threadfin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a threadfin from the family Polynemidae which is native to the western Pacific and eastern Indian Oceans.
Polydactylus plebeius, the striped threadfin, also known as the common threadfin, Northern threadfin or puttynose, is a species of marine fish native to the Indo-Pacific.
Nemipterus peronii, the notchedfin threadfin bream, notchedfin butterfly breamrosy threadfin bream or Peron's threadfin bream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to family Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams. This species occurs in the Indo-West Pacific region.
Nemipterus japonicus, the Japanese threadfin bream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin and whiptail breams. This species is found in the Indo Pacific region and is an important food fish.
The yellowbelly threadfin bream is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin and whiptail breams. This fish is found in the western Pacific Ocean.
The dwarf paradise fish, also known as the streamer threadfin or streamered tasselfish, is a species of ray-finned fish from a family Polynemidae, the threadfins. It is the only species in the genus Parapolynemus and it is found in Australia and New Guinea.
The paradise threadfin is a species of catadromous ray-finned fish, a threadfin from the family Polynemidae which is found in south and southeast Asia in freshwater rivers where it is a valued food fish.
Filimanus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes, threadfins from the family Polynemidae.
The royal threadfin is a species of ray-finned fish, a threadfin from the family Polynemidae, the threadfins. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean along the western coast of Africa.
The doublewhip threadfin bream is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams. This species is found in the Indo-West Pacific region.
