Nemipterus | |
---|---|
Nemipterus furcosus | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Spariformes |
Family: | Nemipteridae |
Genus: | Nemipterus Swainson, 1839 |
Type species | |
Dentex filamentosus Valenciennes, 1830 | |
Synonyms [1] | |
Nemipterus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin and whiptail breams. These fishes are found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, but now also occur in the Mediterranean Sea due to Lessepsian migration.
Nemipterus was first proposed as a monospecific genus in 1839 by the English zoologist William John Swainson with Dentex filamentosus, a species described by Achille Valenciennes in 1830 from "Suriname", as its only species. Valenciennes' D. filamentosus has since been determined to be a subjectively invalid name and the valid name is Dentex nematophorus which had been described by Pieter Bleeker from Padang in Sumatra in 1854. [2] [1] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies Nemipterus within the family Nemipteridae which it places in the order Spariformes. [3]
Nemipterus is a compound of nematos, meaning "thread", and pterus, which means "fin", and this is a reference to the filaments on the dorsal and caudal fin rays of the type species of Nemipterus, Dentex filamentosus. [4]
There are currently 30 recognized species in this genus: [5]
Nemipterus threadfin breams are separated from other Nemipterids by sometimes having scales on the suborbital region and the suborbital bone's margin may be smooth, have small serrations or just a few denticulations. The rear edge of the preoperculum is either smooth or has fine denticulations. If canine-like teeth are present they are only in the front part of the jaws. The scales on the crown extend forwards to or beyond the middle of the eyes and there are scales on the temples. They do not have a suborbital spine and there are 3 transverse rows of scales on the preoperculum. [10] These are medium-sized fishes with the smallest species, N. balinensoides and N. mesoprion, have maximum published standard lengths of 14 cm (5.5 in), while the largest, N. virgatus, has a maximum published standard length of 35 cm (14 in). [5]
Nemipterus threadfin breams are naturally found in the Indian and Western Pacific Ocean. [5] One species, N. randalli, has become established in the Mediterranean Sea, probably entering the sea through the Suez Canal from the Red Sea by Lessepsian migration. [11] They are benthic fishes found at depths down to 300 m (980 ft) but typically in shallower waters. They prefer mud and sand bottoms in coastal areas or on the continental shelf. [10]
Nemipterus threadfin breams may be solitary or schooling and seem to be non-territorial. They are predators feeding on benthic animals including fishes, crustaceans, polychaetes and cephalopods. There is apparent sexual dimorphism in size with males being larger females smaller. They may be protogynous hermaphrodites or males may grow faster than females. They spawn throughout the year with one or two periods of peak breeding activity. [10]
Nemipterus threadfin breams are important targets for commercial and artisianal fisheries throughout their range. The main gear used to catch them is bottom trawl or by handline, but fishers will also use longlines, gill nets, lift nets, surrounding nets, drive-in nets, fish stakes and fish traps. They are food fish and they are sold preserved and processed in various ways. In some areas Nemipterus species are the second or third most targeted fish for fisheries. [10]
Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams, whiptail breams, or Sultan Ibrahim, is a family of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Spariformes. These fishes are found in the Indo-West Pacific region.
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.
Parascolopsis, the dwarf monocle breams, is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Pentapodus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Nemipterus bipunctatus, the Delagoa threadfin bream, Bleeker's threadfin bream or butterfly bream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin and whiptail breams. This demersal fish is found over soft bottoms in the Indian Ocean.
Nemipterus furcosus, the fork-tailed threadfin bream, rosy threadfin bream or red butterfly 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 eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.
Pentapodus setosus, the butterfly whiptail, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams. This fish is found in the Western Central Pacific Ocean.
Parascolopsis inermis, the unarmed dwarf monocle bream, banded monocle bream, redbelt monocle bream or yellow monocle bream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams. This fish is found in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.
Parascolopsis eriomma, the rosy dwarf monocle bream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams. This species is found in the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.
Nemipterus tambuloides, the fivelined threadfin bream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams. This fish is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
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.
Nemipterus isacanthus, the teardrop threadfin bream or twinlined 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 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.
Dentex is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. The fishes in this genus are found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the eastern Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.
Nemipterus randalli, or Randall's threadfin bream, is a species of ray-finned fish from the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams, which is native to the western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, it has invaded the eastern Mediterranean by Lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal.
Parascolopsis rufomaculata, the red-spot dwarf monocle bream or yellowband monocle bream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams. This species is found in the eastern Indian Ocean.
Pentapodus emeryii, the double whiptail, purple threadfin bream or blue whiptail, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams. This fish occurs in the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.
Parascolopsis townsendi, the scaly dwarf monocle bream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Nemipteridae, the threadfin breams. This fish is found in the Western Indian Ocean.
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.