Pachymetopon aeneum

Last updated

Blue hottentot
Blue hottentot at Rheeder's Reef, Tsitsikamma P7174648, crop.jpg
At Rheeder's Reef, Tsitsikamma
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Spariformes
Family: Sparidae
Genus: Pachymetopon
Species:
P. aeneum
Binomial name
Pachymetopon aeneum
Synonyms
  • Cantharus aeneus Gilchrist & W. W. Thompson, 1908
  • Cantharus natalensis Gilchrist & W. W. Thompson, 1908
  • Cantharus simus Gilchrist & W. W. Thompson, 1909

Pachymetopon aeneum, the blue hottentot, is a species of marine demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family (family Sparidae) which includes the seabreams and porgies. It is endemic to the south and east coasts of South Africa. [2]

Contents

Distribution

Only known from False Bay to Sodwana Bay. [3] Depth range usually from 20 to 50 m. Subtropical, from 28°S to 34°S. [4]

Description

A silvery bronze fish, streaked with blue, with a darker blue head, and with the head shorter than body depth. The blues fade after death. There are 2.2 to 2.5 depths to the standard length, and the pectoral fins are longer than the head. The snout profile is slightly concave in adult males, and a there is characteristic bulge between the eyes. The lateral line smoothly follows the curve of the back. [3] The fish has a small mouth with five rows of incisors in each jaw, and no molars. [5] The dorsal fin is soft, with 10 to 11 spines and 11 to 13 rays. The anal fin is scaled at the base and has 3 spines and 10 rays. [6]

Habitat

The blue hottentot lives on rocky reefs to a depth of 75 m. The fish feeds on reef invertebrates such as ascidians, polychaetes, hydroids, octocorals, sponges and gastropods. [3]

Life cycle

Demersal, spawns from September to March. [3] They mature as females at about 25 cm and change to male at a larger size, can live to 12 years, and can reach 60 cm and 5 kg. [5] [4]

Importance to humans

Commercial and recreational linefish, mostly caught from boats. [3] Considered good eating, and sold fresh. [4]

Conservation status

IUCN least concern, assessed in December 2009. Not evaluated by CITES. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panga</span> Species of fish

The panga, or panga seabream is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Pterogymnus. This species is endemic to the coasts of South Africa. The panga is an important species in commercial line fisheries off South Africa.

<i>Naso brachycentron</i> Species of fish

Naso brachycentron, the humpback unicornfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.

<i>Cephalopholis taeniops</i> Species of fish

Cephalopholis taeniops, the African hind, bluespotted sea bass or spotted grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is in the family Serranidae which also includes the anthias and sea basses. This species occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade and is a target for local fisheries. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Epinephelus flavocaeruleus</i> Species of fish

Epinephelus flavocaeruleus, commonly called blue-and-yellow grouper, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a grouper from the subfamily Epinephelinae which is part of the family Serranidae, which also includes the anthias and sea basses. It is associated with reefs in the Indian Ocean.

<i>Naso tonganus</i> Species of surgeonfish

Naso tonganus, the bulbnose unicornfish, hump-nosed unicornfish, humphead unicornfish, or the humpnose unicorn, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acanthuridae, the surgeonfishes, unicornfishes and tangs. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific. It is of value in commercial fisheries.

<i>Clinus berrisfordi</i> Species of fish

Clinus berrisfordi, the Onrust klipfish, is a species of clinid that occurs in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean from False Bay to Skoenmakerskop, South Africa where it prefers marine and brackish habitats with plentiful growth of seaweed. This species can reach a maximum length of 12 centimetres (4.7 in) TL.

<i>Clinus venustris</i> Species of fish in the family Clinidae, the Speckled klipfish

Clinus venustris, the speckled klipfish, is a species of clinid that occurs in subtropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean from Namibia to South Africa where it is found in the subtidal zone as well as being a denizen of tide pools. This species can reach a maximum length of 12 centimetres (4.7 in) TL. and feeds primarily on amphipods, isopods, mysids, and echinoderms.

<i>Chrysoblephus gibbiceps</i> Species of seabream endemic to South Africa

Chrysoblephus gibbiceps, the red stumpnose, red stumpnose seabream or Miss Lucy, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, the seabreams and porgies. This fish is endemic to the southwestern Indian Ocean off the coast of South Africa. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies this species as Endangered.

<i>Chrysoblephus laticeps</i> Species of seabream endemic to southern Africa

Chrysoblephus laticeps, the red roman or roman seabream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, the seabreams and porgies. This fish is endemic to Southern Africa, ranging from Namibia to the Eastern Cape.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape gurnard</span> Species of fish

The Cape gurnard is a species of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Triglidae, the gurnards and sea robins. This species is found in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean and the southwestern Indian Ocean. This species is of commercial importance as a food fish.

<i>Cheimerius</i> Genus of fishes

Cheimerius is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, the seabreams and porgies. The only species in the genus is Cheimerius nufar, the santer seabream, santer or soldier, of the Indian Ocean.

<i>Polysteganus praeorbitalis</i> "Scotsman" seabream, a fish endemic to the Southern African east coast

Polysteganus praeorbitalis, the Scotsman or Scotsman seabream, is a species of marine fish in the seabream family (Sparidae) of order Perciformes. It is native to Southern Africa.

<i>Diplodus hottentotus</i> Species of fish

Diplodus hottentotus, the zebra, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This fish is found in the Western Indian Ocean off Southern Africa.

<i>Chirodactylus grandis</i> Species of marine ray-finned fish from southern Africa

Chirodactylus grandis, the Bank steenbras, is a species of marine fish in the fingerfin or morwong family of order Perciformes. It is native to the coasts of South Africa. and Namibia

<i>Chrysoblephus cristiceps</i> Species of fish

Chrysoblephus cristiceps, the daggerhead seabream or dageraad, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, the seabreams and porgies. This fish is endemic to the southwestern Indian Ocean and southeastern Atlantic Ocean off South Africa. This species is assessed as being Critically Endangered bt the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

<i>Gymnocrotaphus</i> Seabream endemic to South Africa

Gymnocrotaphus is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. The only species in the genus is the Gymnocrotophus curvidens, the Janbruin, an endemic to the coasts of South Africa.

<i>Boopsoidea</i> Species of sea breeam (fish)

Booposoidea is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, the seabreams and porgies. The only species in the genus is Boopsoidea inornata, the Fransmadam or Karel grootoog, which is endemic to the southwestern Indian Ocean off South Africa.

<i>Pachymetopon</i> Genus of fishes

Pachymetopon is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. The species in this genus are endemic to Southern Africa.

<i>Pachymetopon grande</i> Species of fish

Pachymetopon grande, the bronze seabream or blue hottentot, is a species of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This species is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean. It is an important spoecies for recreational fisheries in South Africa and for subsistence fisheries too.

<i>Polyamblyodon germanum</i> Species of fish

Polyamblyodon germanum, the German seabream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish in the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This species is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean.

References

  1. Mann, B.Q.; Buxton, C.D.; Russell, B.; Pollard, D. & Carpenter, K.E. (2014). "Pachymetopon aeneum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T170201A1292355. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T170201A1292355.en . Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  2. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2023). FishBase. Pachymetopon aeneum (Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218606 on 2023-08-27
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Heemstra, Phil; Heemstra, Elaine (2004). Coastal fishes of Southern Africa. Grahamstown: NISC and SAIAB. ISBN   1-920033--01-7.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Pachymetopon aeneum" in FishBase. June 2023 version.
  5. 1 2 Branch, G.M.; Branch, M.L.; Griffiths, C.L.; Beckley, L.E. (2010). Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa (2nd ed.). Cape Town: Struik Nature. ISBN   978 1 77007 772 0.
  6. Smith, J.L.B. (1977). Smith's sea fishes. Cape Town: Valiant publishers. ISBN   0 86884 029 7.