| Polysteganus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Polysteganus praeorbitalis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Spariformes |
| Family: | Sparidae |
| Genus: | Polysteganus Klunzinger, 1870 |
| Type species | |
| Dentex (Polysteganus) coeruleopunctatus Klunzinger, 1870 [1] | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Polysteganus is a genus of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. The fishes in this genus are found in the Indian Ocean.
Polysteganus was first proposed as a subgenus of Dentex in 1870 by the German zoologist Carl Benjamin Klunzinger when he described Dentex (Polysteganus) coeruleopunctatus. In 1919 David Starr Jordan formally designated D. (P.) coeruleopunctatus as the type species of Polysteganus. [1] This genus is placed in the family Sparidae within the order Spariformes by the 5th edition of Fishes of the World . [2] Some authorities classify this genus in the subfamily Denticinae, [3] but the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise subfamilies within the Sparidae. [2]
Polysteganus is a combination of poly, meaning ”many”, and steganus, meaning “covered”, a reference to the scales between the eyes extend as far as a level with the front edge of the eyes. [4]
Polysteganus contains 8 recognised species: [5]
Polysteganus seabreams typically have 12, although it is sometimes 11, spines supporting the dorsal fin. The space between the eyes and tha flange of the preoperculum are scaly whule the bases of the dorsal and anal fin are not fleshy. The canine-like teeth in the front of the jaws, 6 on the lower jaw and 4 on the upper jaw, are not well developed, although in P. baissaci each jaw has 4 canines at its front. The lower jaw has no molar-like teeth. [7] The seventyfour seabbream (P. undulosus) is the largest species in the genus with a maximum published total length of 120 cm (47 in) while, with a maximum published total length of 13.4 cm (5.3 in), the cherry seabream (P. cerasinus) is the smallest. [5]
Polysteganus seabreams are only found in the Western Indian Ocean from the Red Sea south to as far as Knysna in the Western Cape and around Madagascar, the Seychelles and the Mascarene Islands. They live at depths greater than 50 m (160 ft) over sandy substrates and reefs. [7]
Polysteganus has one species, P. coeruleopunctatus, which is a commercially important species in East Africa. [7] Another species P. undulosus, which has been overfished in South Africa where a moratorium on fishing was put in place and since then there has been some indication of a recovery in the stocks, such as increased numbers of juveniles being seen in nursery areas. [8]
Sparidae is a family of ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Spariformes, the sea breams and porgies, although they were traditionally classified in the order Perciformes. They are found in shallow temperate and tropical waters around the world and are demersal carnivores.
Pagellus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. These fishes are found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the western Indian Ocean.
Boops is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sparidae, the seabreams and porgies. There are two species in this genus, one in the Western Atlantic and Mediterranean, and the other in the Western Indian Ocean.
Gymnocranius is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Lethrinidae, the emperors and emperor breams. These fishes are found in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.
Acanthopagrus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sparidae, the sea breams and porgies. The fish in this genus are found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
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.
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.
Polyamblyodon gibbosum, the knife-back seabream or cristie, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This species is endemic to the southwestern Indian Ocean.
Crenidens is a small genus of three species of seabream from the family Sparidae from the western Indian Ocean. It was previously regarded as monotypic, with the sole species being the Karenteen sea bream Crenidens crenidens but two other species are now accepted as valid species, separate from the type species, C. crenidens.
Argyrozona is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, the seabreams and progies. Its only species is Argyrozona argyrozona, the carpenter seabream or doppie, which is endemic to the waters off southern South Africa.
Argyrops is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sparidae, the seabreams and porgies. These fishes are found in the coasts of Indian Ocean and near Australia.
Chrysoblephus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sparidae, the sea breams and porgies. The fish in this genus are found in the western Indian Ocean and southeastern Atlantic Ocean.
Pagellus natalensis, the Natal pandora, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This species is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean.
Dentex abei, the yellowfin seabream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This species is found in the Western Pacific Ocean in East Asia.
Evynnis is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. The genus comprises 4 species, 3 in the Western Pacific Ocean and 1 in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean.
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.
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.
Pagellus affinis, the Arabian pandora, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This species is found in the northern Western Indian Ocean.
Polyamblyodon is a genus of marin ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. The fishes in this genus are found in the Western Indian Ocean.
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.