Trachinotus africanus

Last updated

African pompano
Carangidae Trachinotus africanus 1.2, crop.jpg
T. africanus at uShaka Marine World
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Carangiformes
Family: Carangidae
Genus: Trachinotus
Species:
T. africanus
Binomial name
Trachinotus africanus

Trachinotus africanus, the Southern pompano or African pompano, is a species of marine ray-finned fish from the Indian Ocean.

Contents

Description

Trachinotus africanus is a very deep bodied fish, silver in colour with blue fins with yellow margins. [2] The fish has a blunt nose and does not have large spots. [3]

Distribution

Trachinotus africanus has a disjunct distribution with three populations. There is a population in the south-western Indian Ocean along the African coast from Knysna in South Africa to Delagoa Bay in Mozambique; a second population occurs in the northern Indian Ocean from the Gulf of Aden in Yemen to Karachi in Pakistan; and the third population is located around Bali in Indonesia. [4] [1] This species was described in 1967 by the South African ichthyologist James Leonard Brierley Smith (1897-1968) with the type locality given as Knysna. [5]

Habitat and biology

Trachinotus africanus is an inshore species of the surf zone which has a tolerance for water with low salinity and will enter estuaries. It is a bottom feeder which prefers the seaward edges of reefs which frequently forages for food in wave formed gullies in sandy substrates and along the edge of the wave zone. It is a solitary species. [2] The fish feed upon rock mussels, sand mussels, sand dollars, crabs, and mole crabs. The fish consumes these with a powerful pharyngeal dentition. [6]

Human interest and conservation

Trachinotus africanus is a quarry species for recreational shore and boat angling, spearfishing and subsistence fisheries in South Africa. It is a very popular species for recreational fishing in KwaZulu Natal and its commercial use is banned there, though in the Western Cape fish caught in False Bay can be sold. There is a closed season which lasts from 1 October to 30 November. [7]

The fish is lauded for being excellent table fare, being grilled or prepared on a braai. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Archosargus probatocephalus</i> Species of fish

Archosargus probatocephalus, the sheepshead, sheepshead seabream or convict fish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, the seabreams and porgies. This species is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean. The sheepshead is an important species to recreational and commercial fisheries.

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

The mahi-mahi or common dolphinfish is a surface-dwelling ray-finned fish found in off-shore temperate, tropical, and subtropical waters worldwide. Also widely called dorado and dolphin, it is one of two members of the family Coryphaenidae, the other being the pompano dolphinfish. These fish are most commonly found in the waters around the Gulf of Mexico, Costa Rica, Hawaii and the Indian Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intertidal zone</span> Area of coast exposed only at low tide

The intertidal zone or foreshore is the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide; in other words, it is the part of the littoral zone within the tidal range. This area can include several types of habitats with various species of life, such as sea stars, sea urchins, and many species of coral with regional differences in biodiversity. Sometimes it is referred to as the littoral zone or seashore, although those can be defined as a wider region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pompano</span> Genus of fishes

Pompanos are marine fish in the genus Trachinotus in the family Carangidae. Pompano may also refer to various other, similarly shaped members of the Carangidae, or the order Perciformes. Their appearance is of deep-bodied fishes, exhibiting strong lateral compression, with a rounded face and pronounced curve to the anterior portion of their dorsal profile. Their ventral profile is noticeably less curved by comparison, while their anterior profile is straight-edged, tapering sharply to a narrow caudal peduncle. Their dorsal and anal fins are typically sickle-shaped, with very long anterior rays and a succession of much shorter rays behind, with a similarly long & curved, deeply forked tail which has a narrow base. They are typically overall silvery in color, sometimes with dark or yellowish fins, and one or a few black markings on the side of their body. They are toothless and are relatively large fish, up to about 1.2 m (3.9 ft) long, although most species reach no more than half or two-thirds of that size. They are found worldwide in warmer seas, sometimes also entering brackish waters.

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

The African pompano, also known as the pennant-fish or threadfin trevally, is a widely distributed species of tropical marine fish in the jack family, Carangidae. The species is found in tropical waters worldwide, with adults often inhabiting coastlines, while juveniles are usually pelagic, floating with ocean currents. The adult African pompano is similar in appearance to the other members of the genus Alectis, with the concave shape of the head near the eyes; the clearest distinguishing feature. The juveniles are similar to other members of Alectis, having long, filamentous dorsal and anal fin tips which are thought to discourage predators. The species lives in depths less than 100 m, consuming a range of crustaceans and small fishes. The species is of minor economic importance, often taken amongst other tropical midwater fishes by hook and line, while juveniles are occasionally caught in beach seines. African pompano are also highly rated game fish, often considered one of the strongest of the jacks in larger sizes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Permit (fish)</span> Species of fish

The permit is a game fish of the western Atlantic Ocean belonging to the family Carangidae. Adults feed on crabs, shrimp, and smaller fish.

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

Epinephelus albomarginatus, the white-edged grouper, white-edged rockcod or captain fine, 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 found in the southwestern Indian Ocean and it is associated with coral reefs. It is a target species for commercial and recreational fisheries.

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

Epinephelus andersoni, the catface grouper, brown-spotted grouper, catface rockcod or brown spotted rockcod, 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 found in the southwestern Indian Ocean where it is associated with reefs.

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

The greater amberjack, also known as the allied kingfish, great amberfish, greater yellowtail, jenny lind, Sea donkey, purplish amberjack, reef donkey, rock salmon, sailors choice, yellowtail, and yellow trevally, is a species of predatory ray-finned fish in the family Carangidae, the jacks and pompanos. It is found in temperate, subtropical, and tropical seas around the world. It is a popular quarry species for recreational fisheries and is important in commercial fisheries. It is the largest species in the family Carangidae.

<i>Trachinotus goodei</i> Species of fish

Trachinotus goodei, the palometa, is an ocean-going game fish of the family Carangidae. Other common names include banner pompano, camade fish, cobbler, gafftopsail, great pompano, joefish, longfin pompano, old wife, sand mackerel, streamers jack, wireback. This fish is native to the western Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Bermuda to Argentina. It can be found in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

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

The summer flounder or fluke is a marine flatfish that is found in the Atlantic Ocean off the East Coast of the United States and Canada. It is especially abundant in waters from North Carolina to Massachusetts.

This page is a list of fishing topics.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to fishing:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porgy fishing</span> Type of fish

Porgy is the common name in Australia for any fish which belongs to the family Sparidae. They are also called bream. Porgies live in shallow temperate marine waters and are bottom-dwelling carnivores. Most species possess grinding, molar-like teeth. They are often good eating fish, particularly the gilt-head bream and the dentex.

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

The Florida pompano is a species of marine fish in the Trachinotus (pompano) genus of the family Carangidae. It has a compressed body and short snout; coloration varies from blue-greenish silver on the dorsal areas and silver to yellow on the body and fins. It can be found along the western coast of the Atlantic Ocean, depending on the season, and is popular for both sport and commercial fishing. Most Florida pompano caught weigh less than 3 lb (1.4 kg) and are less than 17 in (43 cm) long, though the largest individuals weigh 8–9 lb (3.6–4.1 kg) and reach lengths up to 26 in (66 cm).

<i>Trachinotus ovatus</i> Species of fish

Trachinotus ovatus, the pompano which is also known as the derbio or silverfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Carangidae, the jacks. It has large, strong fins. It is common in the Mediterranean Sea, and in the Atlantic Ocean from the British Isles and Scandinavia, where it is a vagrant, to the Gulf of Guinea and Angola.

<i>Acanthopagrus berda</i> Species of fish

Acanthopagrus berda, the goldsilk seabream, sly bream, picnic seabream, black sea bream, black porgy, picky bream, silver bream or river bream, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, the sea breams and porgies. This species is found in the Indian Ocean.

<i>Trachinotus anak</i> Species of fish

Trachinotus anak, the giant oystercracker, or oyster pompano, is a marine fish endemic to the coasts of tropical Australia, one of 20 species of pompano.

The Goukamma Marine Protected Area is an inshore conservation region near Knysna in the Western Cape province in the territorial waters of South Africa

<i>Trachinotus blochii</i> Species of fish

The, also called the snubnose dart, golden pompano, and golden pomfret, is an Asia Pacific species of pompano in the family Carangidae. It is a pelagic fish associated with rocky reefs, coral reefs as well as inshore habitats.

References

  1. 1 2 Smith-Vaniz, W.F.; Carpenter, K.E.; Borsa, P.; Obota, C.; Yahya, S.; Jiddawi, N. (2018). "Trachinotus africanus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T20436417A67871610. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T20436417A67871610.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Bill Hansford-Steele (2013). African fly-fishing handbook A guide to freshwater and saltwater fly-fishing. Penguin Random House South Africa. ISBN   978-1432302290.
  3. 1 2 Crous, Hennie (2013-09-26). Top Angling Fishes of SA: Find, catch, identify. Penguin Random House South Africa. ISBN   9781431701780.
  4. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Trachinotus africanus" in FishBase . August 2019 version.
  5. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Trachinotus africanus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  6. Randall, John E. (1995). Coastal Fishes of Oman. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN   9780824818081.
  7. "Southern pompano". WWF. 29 December 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2019.