Argyrosomus inodorus

Last updated

Argyrosomus inodorus
Argyrosomus inodorus.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Sciaenidae
Genus: Argyrosomus
Species:
A. inodorus
Binomial name
Argyrosomus inodorus

Argyrosomus inodorus, the mild meagre or silver kob, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. The species is found off southern Africa where it is an important target species for hook and line fisheries.

Contents

Taxonomy

Argyrosomus inodorus was first formally described in 1995 by Marc H. Griffiths and Phil Heemstra with its type locality given as False Bay in the Western Cape. [2] Previously this species had been thought to be conspecific with the Madagascar meagre ( Argyrosomus hololepidotus ), endemic to eastern Madagascan waters, as was the dusky kob ( Argyrosomus coronus ) which prefers warmer waters to the north of the distribution of that of the mild meagre. [3] This fish belongs to the family Sciaenidae in the order Acanthuriformes. [4] The specific name, inodorus, means "without scent" and is a reference to this species lack of a brassy aroma like that given off by A. japonicus in South African waters. [5]

Description

Argyrosomus inodorus has 11 spines in its dorsal fin with 10 in front of the incision which almost divides that fin and 1 behind it along with between 25 and 29 soft rays. The anal fin is supported by 2 spines and 7 soft rays. The standard length is 3.6 to 4.2 times the body's depth. The fold in the axillary of the pectoral fin is naked and the part of the lateral line near the head is moderately curved. Only the males have drumming muscles. The colour of the body is silvery darkening on the upper body to greenish-brown with a copper sheen on the sides and back, sometimes this is more noticeable on the head, and a white breast and belly. The dorsal fin and caudal fin are pale yellowish grey to greyish brown while the anal, pectoral and pelvic fins are whitish to brownish grey, but may sometinmes be reddish, particularly the caudal fin. [6] This species has a maximum published total length of 145 cm (57 in), although 115 cm (45 in) is more typical, and a maximum published weight of 36.3 kg (80 lb). [7]

Distribution and habitat

Argyrosomus inodorus is found in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean and the southwestern Indian Ocean from Cape Fria in Namibia southwards to Cape Agulhas and east along the South African coast to the Great Kei River. [1] In South Africa this species is rare in estuaries and in the surf zone east of Cape Agulhas but is common in the surf zone in the cooler waters along the Atlantic coast of South Africa and Namibia. It is found at depths between 1 and 100 m (3 ft 3 in and 328 ft 1 in) but rarely below 10 m (33 ft) off Namibia due to an anoxic zone below that depth. [7]

Biology

Argyrosomus inodorus adults in the Namibian stock migrate in a southerly direction, swimming against the prevailing northwesterly currents on the surface, starting with the onset of the summer. They spawn in Sandwich and Meob Bays, situated to the southern limit of the distribution of that stock. Spawning takes place all year in South Africa, but the main spawning season runs from August to December, peaking in Spring, i.e. September to November, while in Namibia spawning takes place in October through to March. It has been suggested that the newly hatched larvae drift north with the current to the nursery areas. Once the juveniles have reached roughly 2 years of age they will slowly migrate northwards to the adult feeding grounds, the waters off the Skeleton Coast National Park. As water temperature decreases in the surf zone the adults finish spawning and return to their feeding ground, moving a little offshore and following the currents. [1]

In South Africa, data from radiometric tags have shown that the adult fish are site faithful but will undertake infrequent long distance movements. These fish feed on both pelagic and demersal prey including anchovies (Engraulis capensis), round herring and hake, as well as shrimp and squid. [1]

Fisheries and conservation

Argyrosomus inodorus is the most important target species for hook and line fisheries in Namibia. Three different types of fisheries target this species in Namibia, therse are commercial hook and line fishing boats, commercial skiboats and recreational shore anglers. Each these fisheries have a mean combined catch of 1,000 t (980 long tons; 1,100 short tons). This species is also reportedly taken as bycatch by hake trawlers. It is also targeted in South Africa by similar fisheries as well as by beach seine netters. South Africa and Namibia introduced bag limits for recreational anglers and restrictions on commercial fisheries but these are not thought to be enough to halt recorded declines in the stocks. [1]

The IUCN classifies this species a Vulnerable because all four known stocks, one in Namibia and three in South Africa were overfished and there have been declines in the populations in excess of 30% over the last three generations, each generation being assessed to be 12 years. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hake</span> Family of fishes

Hake is the common name for fish in the Merlucciidae family of the northern and southern oceans and the Phycidae family of the northern oceans. Hake is a commercially important fish in the same taxonomic order, Gadiformes, as cod and haddock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sciaenidae</span> Family of fishes

Sciaenidae is a family of ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Acanthuriformes. They are commonly called drums or croakers in reference to the repetitive throbbing or drumming sounds they make. The family consists of about 293 to 298 species in about 66 or 67 genera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zeidae</span> Family of fishes

The Zeidae are a family of large, showy, deep-bodied zeiform marine fish—the "true dories". Found in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, the family contains just six species in two genera. All species are important and highly regarded food fish supporting commercial fisheries, and some—such as the John Dory —are enjoyed in large public aquaria. These fish are caught primarily by deep-sea trawling.

<i>Emmelichthys nitidus</i> Species of fish

Emmelichthys nitidus, the Cape bonnetmouth, bonnetmouth, redbait, pearl fish, picarel, red baitfish, red herring or Southern rover, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Emmelichthyidae, the rovers and bonnetmouths. This species is found in the Indian and Pacific oceans. This species is of minor importance to commercial fisheries.

<i>Argyrosomus regius</i> Species of fish

Argyrosomus regius, also known as the meagre, croaker, jewfish, shade-fish, sowa, kir, corvina, salmon-bass or stone bass, is a species of fish of the family Sciaenidae. This large fish has a pearly-silver to brownish coloration and a yellow-coloured mouth. It is native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

<i>Argyrosomus</i> Genus of fishes in the drum family, Sciaenidae

Argyrosomus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums. The fish in this genus are large and are commonly targeted as game fish.

<i>Argyrosomus japonicus</i> Species of fish

Argyrosomus japonicus is a silvery to bronze-green colored fish, a member of the family Sciaenidae, which may grow up to 2 m in length. It is known as Japanese meagre (FAO), mulloway or jewfish in the eastern states of Australia, mulloway in South Australia, kingfish or river kingfish in Western Australia, and dusky kob, dusky salmon, salmon, Kob, or kabeljou in South Africa, Ô-nibe in Japan, Sawwa Krokar Fish or Sawwa Machli in Pakistan. The name jewfish refers to its large otoliths, which are prized as "jewels" by some fishers.

<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>Cynoscion arenarius</i> Species of fish

Cynoscion arenarius, sand seatrout, sand weakfish or white trout, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean. It is closely related to the common weakfish and may be a subspecies of C. regalis.

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

The brown meagre or corb is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species found in, the eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea occurring in shallow waters and sandy bottoms. It is harvested for human consumption, especially in the Mediterranean.

<i>Otolithes ruber</i> Species of fish

Otolithes ruber, commonly known as the tigertooth croaker, silver teraglin, wiretooth, snapper kob, snapper salmon, Yankee whiting or Yankee salmon is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reeve's croaker</span> Species of fish

Reeve's croaker, also known as the goldbelly croaker, golden corvina, yellowfin croaker or yellowfin corvina, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific region. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Chrysochir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West coast seabream</span> Species of fish

The west coast seabream or west coast steenbras is a species of marine fish in the family Sparidae. It is found in very shallow water off the coasts of to Angola, Namibia and South Africa. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists its conservation status as being "near threatened".

<i>Umbrina canariensis</i> Species of fish

Umbrina canariensis, the Canary drum is a warm water, marine fish of the family Sciaenidae which is found in the western Mediterranean, eastern Atlantic Ocean and western Indian Ocean. Other English vernacular names are tesselfish, baardman, checker drum, common baardman, tasselfish and bellman.

<i>Argyrozona</i> Species of marine ray-finned fish

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.

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

Diplodus capensis, the Cape white seabream or blacktail seabream, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This fish is found around the coasts of Southern Africa.

<i>Argyrosomus hololepidotus</i> Species of fish

Argyrosomus hololepidotus, also known as the Madagascar meagre or southern meagre, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. The species is endemic to Madagascar and the Indian Ocean.

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

The geelbeck croaker, also known as the African weakfish or Cape salmon, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. This species is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean off southeastern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Half-mourning croaker</span> Species of fish

The half-mourning croaker is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. It is the only species in the monospecific genus Paranibea. This fish is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

Argyrosomus coronus, also known as the westcoast dusty kob, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fennessy, S. & Winker, H. (2020). "Argyrosomus inodorus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T49145334A49234949. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T49145334A49234949.en . Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  2. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Argyrosomus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  3. ↑ Griffiths, Marc H.; Heemstra, Phillip C. (1995). "A contribution to the taxonomy of the marine fish genus Argyrosomus (Perciformes: Sciaenidae), with descriptions of two new species from southern Africa". Ichthyological Bulletin J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology (65). J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. hdl:10962/d1019891.
  4. ↑ J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Wiley. pp. 497–502. ISBN   978-1-118-34233-6. Archived from the original on 2019-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
  5. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (9 March 2023). "Series Eupercaria (Incertae sedis): Families Callanthidae, Centrogenyidae, Dinopercidae, Emmelichthyidae, Malacanthidae, Monodactylidae, Moronidae, Parascorpididae, Sciaenidae and Sillagidae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Kunio Sasaki (2022). "Family Sciaenidae, Croakers, drums and kob". In P.C. Heemstra; et al. (eds.). Coastal fishes of the western Indian Ocean. Volume 3 (PDF). South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. pp. 389–414. ISBN   978-1-990951-30-5.
  7. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Argyrosomus inodorus" in FishBase . February 2023 version.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.