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CARAN Paras 1

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY : FISHING AREA 51 (W. )

Parastromateus niger (Bloch, 1795)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Apolectus niger (Bloch, 1795) Formio niger Bloch, 1795) Citula halli Evermann & Seale, 1907

VERNACULAR NAMES:

FAO : En - Black pomfret Fr - Castagnoline noire Sp - Palometa negra NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body deep and compressed; dorsal and ventral profiles of body strongly and equally convex. Mouth terminal with upper jaw unrestricted dorsally and ending below and slightly before anterior margin of eye; both jaws with a single row of small conical teeth; gill openings unrestricted laterally and ventrally. with 4 or 5 short spines (embedded and not apparent in adults) followed by 1 spine and 41 and 44 soft rays; anal fin with 2 spines embedded and not apparent in adults followed by 1 spine and 35 to 39 soft rays; profile of second dorsal and anal fins nearly identical, with elevated, broadly rounded anterior lobes; pelvic fins absent in specimens larger than about 10 cm fork length, and in juveniles positioned distinctly anterior to a vertical line through pectoral fin base; pectoral fins long and falcate. Lateral line very weakly arched anteriorly, with junction of straight and curved parts below posterior third of dorsal fin; straight part of lateral line with 8 to 19 weak scutes, forming a slight keel on caudal peduncle; scales small and deciduous, and almost completely covering dorsal and anal fins. Vertebrae 10+ 14. Colour: in life, adults uniformly silvery-grey to bluish-brown (yellowish-brown when deciduous scales are missing); fins with dark edges. Young with dark vertical bars and long black jugular pelvic fins.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Species of Stromateidae (Pampas): upper jaw covered by skin and united dorsally to suborbital (free and unrestricted in Parastromataus); gill openings restricted, membraneously broadly united to isthmus; and caudal peduncle compressed and deep, and without lateral line scutes. Other species of Crangidae: pelvic fins always pre- sent and not positioned distinctly anterior to a vertical through pectoral fin base (pelvic fins jugular in young Parastromataus, absent in specimens larger than about 10 cm fork length); scales, if present, on dorsal and anal fins restricted to about basal half of fin (scales almost completely covering fins in Parastromataus). Stromateidae (Pampus) SIZE:

Maximum: about 55 cm total length; common to 30 cm total length.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Pelagic on the continental shelf from South , Mozam- bique, , the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, , the Philip- pines, , southern and . Most abundant on the west coast of India and in Indonesia. Generally near the bottom during the day, rising to near the surface at night. Often occurs in large schools, and not uncommonly observed swimming on their sides. Usually found in 15 to 40 m depth, generally over muddy bottoms. Feeds on zooplankton. A large parasitic isopod is often present clinging to the tongue.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

In India, the most important fishing grounds are located between Mangalore and Tuticorin, with the greatest catches between October and February. At other seasons, the species tends to more offshore; also regularly fished or, Sofala Bank off .

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Catches seem to be highly variable from year to year, and in India may range from 500 to 4 000 t annually.

The principal gear used is gillnets, but seines and trawls: also take black pomfrets. In Mozambique, most boat are captured by trawling.

Most are sold fresh; a few are frozen. CARAN Pseu 1

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY: CARANGIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)

Pseudocararix dentex (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Caranx dentex (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) Caranx georgianus Cuvier, 1833 Longirostrum latessa (Cuvier, 1833) Caranx cheilio Snyder,1904 Caranx natalensis Gllchrist & Thompson, 1911

VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - White trevally Fr - Carangue dentue Sp - Jurel dentón

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body elongate, moderately deep and compressed, with dorsal and ventral profiles similar; lips noticeably papillose and upper jaw projecting beyond lower in large adults. Eye relatively small with adipose eyelid poorly developed; end of upper jaw not extending to anterior margin of eye; both jaws with a single row of blunt conical teeth upper jaw sometimes with an inner series of conical teeth anteriorly in young; gillrakers (including rudiments) 11 to 13 upper, 24 to 27 lower and 37 to 39 total on first gill arch. Two separate dorsal fins, the first with 8 spines, the second with 1 spine and 25 or 26 soft rays; anal fin with 2 detached spines followed by 1 spine and 21 or 22 soft rays; terminal dorsal and anal rays enlarged and a little separated from adjacent rays but not detached; spinous dorsal fin high, longest spine height slightly longer than length of soft dorsal fin lobe. Lateral line with a weak arid extended anterior arch, with junction of curved arid straight parts of lateral line below second dorsal fin between 12th to 14th soft rays; chord of curved part of lateral line contained 0.6 to 0.85 times in straight part (to caudal base); straight part of lateral line with 7 to 16 anterior scales and 25 to 31 scutes; breast completely scaled or with a small naked spot anteroventrally. Vertebrae 10+15.

Colour: pale greenish blue above, silvery below; a yellow stripe usually present along sides (wider posteriorly) and at bases of soft dorsal and anal fins; caudal and soft dorsal fins dusky yellow; a distinct black spot on upper margin of opercle. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Carangoides equula: second dorsal and anal fins with a submarginal black band; total gillrakers of first arch 27 to 32 (versus 37 to 39 in P. dentex); and both jaws with narrow bands of small teeth.

Other Carangoides species: height of spinous dorsal fin distinctly shorter than length of second dorsal-fin lobe (except C. praeustus which differs in having more total gillrakers, 41 to 46, and a distinctive colour pattern).

Caranx species: height of spinous dorsal fin dis- tinctly shorter than length of second dorsal fin lobe; and Carangoides equula upper jaw with an outer series of moderate to strong canines and an inner band of fine teeth.

SIZE:

Maximum: about 82 cm fork length and 10.7 kg; common to 40 cm fork length.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: Carangoides (ferdau) A broadly distributed, anti-tropical species; in the Western Indian Ocean definitely known only from but reported to also occur off Somalia (Ras Hafun). In the Indo-West Pacific also known from Japan, Austra- lia, New Zealand, Rapa, Pitcairn, Hawaiian Archipelago and Easter Island. Also occurs in the Mediterranean Sea, Azores, Madeira, Canary, Cape Verde, Ascension and St. Helena Islands, and in the Western Atlantic Ocean at Bermuda and off southern Brazil. Carangoides praeustus Found mainly on banks and shelf slope habitats at depths of 80 to 200 m throughout much of its range, but at some localities juveniles and occasionally adults may also frequent the shoreline.

Fish, molluscs and constitute the bulk of the diet of this opportunist bottom feeder.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Waters over the continental shelf and upper slope throughout its range.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.

Caught mainly with bottom trawls.

Marketed mostly fresh and dried salted. CARAN Scom 1

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY: CARANGIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)

Scomberoides commersonnianus Lacepède, 1802*

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Chorinemus commersonnianus (Lacepède, 1802)

VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Talang Fr - Sauteurtalang Sp - Jurel saltador

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body oblong to elliptical, strongly compressed; dorsal and ventral profiles similar, snout blunt with dorsal profile of head and scales on midbody nape slightly convex. Upper lip joined to snout at midline by a bridge of skin (frenum), except crossed by a shallow groove in very young; upper jaw extends well beyond posterior marqin of eye in adults; lower jaw with 2 roves of teeth separated b a shallow groove, adults with teeth in inner row about equal in size to those in outer row; gillrakers (excluding rudiments) 0 to 3 upper, 7 to 12 lower and 8 to 15 total on first gill arch. Two separate dorsal fins, the first with 6 or 7 short spines, depressible into a shallow groove on dorsal midline, followed by 1 spine and 19 to 21 soft rays; anal fin with 2 detatched spines followed by 16 to 19 soft rays; posterior soft dorsal- and anal- fin rays consisting of semidetached finlets; bases of anal and second dorsal fins about equal in length; height of second dorsal-fin lobe 14.4 to 19.8% of fork length in specimens larger than 15 cm fork length; pelvic fins about equal in length or shorter than pectoral fins. Lateral line only slightly irregular, weakly to moderately convex above pectoral fin, becoming straight posteriorly. No scutes; scales on midbody below lateral line, partially embedded and broadly lanceolate. No caudal peduncle grooves. Vertebrae 10 + 16. Colour: in life, head and body dusky green to bluish dorsally, grey to silvery below, large individuals often golden, especially ventrally; sides of adults with 5 to 8 large, plumbeous blotches above or touching lateral line, first two may intersect lateral line. Dorsal and anal fins dusky to dark, uniformly pigmented; pectoral fins of adults frequently with a dusky blotch ventrally.

* In their revision of Smith-Vaniz and Staiger (1973, Proc.Cal.Acad.Sci.) determined that the name S. lysan (Cuvier had been generally misapplied to this species

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Scomberoides tela: upper jaw extends slightly beyond posterior margin of eye (in C. commersonnianus jaw extends well beyond posterior margin of eye, especially in large adults); adults with inner row of teeth in lower jaw distinctly larger than those in outer row; and spots on body, if present, vertically elongate and mostly intersecting lateral line.

S. lysan and S. tol: total gillrakers on first gill arch 21 to 27 (versus 8 to 15); lobe of dorsal fin abruptly dark on distal half (not uniformly pigmented); and dorsal fin lobe shor- ter, 7.7 to 11.2% of fork length in specimens larger than 15 cm fork length (versus 14.4 to S. tala S. commersonnianus 19.8%).

Other species of Carangidae: upper lip not joined to snout at midline by a bridge of skin and posterior soft dorsal and anal fin rays not consisting of semidetached finlets; additionally many carangids differ in having at least the posterior straight part of the lateral line with scutes.

S. tala

S. commersornnianus SIZE: teeth on lower jaw Maximum: largest specimen examined 94 cm fork length; reported to attain 120 cm total length. South African spearfishing record 14.4 kg.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: S. lysan

Broadly distributed throughout the Indian Ocean and in the Western Pacific Ocean known from the Gulf of Thailand, Okinawa, Indonesia, the , Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Although periodically entering estuaries, generally intolerant of S. commersonnianus low salinities and turbid water; swims in small groups and usually frequents reefs and offshore islands.

Primarily a daytime feeder on fish, cephalopods and other pelagic prey; young use specialized juvenile dentition to aggressively remove scales and epidermal tissue from other fishes.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Major catches are obtained in India at depths of 15 to 18 m in waters surrounding offshore islands.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.

Caught with drift setnets, gillnets, seines and on hook and line.

Marketed mostly fresh. As is true of all members of the , the spines of the first dorsal and anal fins are venomous (especially the latter) and capable of inflicting painful stings.

CARAN Scom 2

1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY: CARANGIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)

Scomberoides lysan (Forsskål, 1775)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Chorinemus sanctipetri Cuvier, 1832 Chorinemus orientalis Temminck & Schlegel, 1844

VERNACULAR NAMES:

FAO : En - Fr - Sauteur sabre Sp - Jurel sable

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS: Body oblong to elliptical, strongly compressed; dorsal and ventral profiles nearly equal, snout pointed with dorsal profile of head and nape slightly concave. Upper lip joined to snout at midline by a bridge of skin (frenum), except crossed by a shallow groove in very young; upper jaw extends to posterior margin of eye in adults; lower jaw with 2 rows of teeth separated by a shallow groove, adults with teeth in inner row equal in size to those in outer row; gillrakers (excluding rudiments) 3 to 8 upper, 15 to 20 lower and 21 to 27 total on first gill arch. Two separate dorsal fins, the first with 6 or 7 short spines, depressible into a shallow groove on dorsal midline, followed by 1 spine and 19 to 21 soft rays; anal fin with 2 detached spines followed by 17 to 19 soft rays; posterior soft dorsal- and anal-fin rays consisting of semidetached finlets; bases of anal and second dorsal fins about equal in length; height of second dorsal-fin lobe 9.1 to 14.2% of fork length in specimens larger than 15 cm fork length; pelvic fins about equal in length or shorter than pectoral fins. Lateral line only slightly irregular, weakly to moderately convex above pectoral fin, becoming straight posteriorly. No scutes; scales on midbody below lateral line partially embedded and lanceolate. No caudal peduncle grooves. Vertebrae 10 + 16. Colour: in life, body grey-green dorsally, silvery grey to midline and silvery white ventrally; adults with a double series of 6 to 8 dusky roundish blotches above and below lateral line, occasionally connected by narrow isthmus. Distal half of dorsal fin lobe abruptly and heavily pigmented; anal fin lobe white or pale yellow, often interradial membranes of several anterior rays black, especially in large individuals.

*In their revision of Scomberoides Smith-Vaniz and Staiger (1973, Proc.Cal.Acad.Sci.) determined that the name S. lysan of authors had previously been incorrectly applied to the species now called S. commerson- nianus DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Scomberoides tol: scales on midbody below lateral line slender and needlelike (versus lanceolate); in adults, upper jaw does not extend to anterior margin of eye; and spots on body, if present, unpaired oval or vertically oblong blotches.

S. commersonnianus and S. tala: total gillrakers on first gill arch 8 to 15 (versus 21 to 27); lobe of S. tol scales on midbody S. lysan dorsal fin uniformly pigmented (not abruptly dark on distal half); and dorsal fin lobe longer, 14.4 to 19.8% of fork length in specimens larger than 15 cm fork length (versus 7.7 to 11.2%). Other species of Carangidae: upper lip not joined to snout at midline by a bridge of skin and posterior soft dorsal and anal fin rays not consisting of semidetached finlets; addi- tionally many carangids differ in having at S. tol S. lysan least the posterior straight part of the lateral line with scutes.

SIZE: Maximum: largest specimen examined 58.5 cm fork length.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: S. commersonnianus

Broadly distributed throughout the Indian Ocean but no confirmed records from the "Gulf". Also very broadly distributed elsewhere in the Indo-West Pacific from Oki- nawa to Australia and eastward to the Hawaiian Islands.

Often travels in small schools and inhabits inshore waters from shallow lagoons to offshore areas from the surface to depths of 100 m. Reported to be attracted by S. lysan hitting the surface of the water repeatedly in rapid succession. Feeds primarily on other fishes and small crusta- ceans; young use specialized juvenile dentition to aggres- sively remove scales and epidermal tissue from other fishes.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Coastal waters throughout its range.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION :

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.

Caught with drift setnets, gillnets, seines and on hook and line.

Marketed fresh arid dried salted. As is true of all members of the genus, the spines of the first dorsal and anal fins are venomous (especially the latter) and capable of inflicting painful stings.

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