click for previous page

MULL Upen 5

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY: MULLIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. )

Upeneus sundaicus (Bleeker, 1855)

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None

VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Ochreband Fr - Rouget-souris ocre Sp - Salmonete de banda ocre

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body elongate, the depth 3.7 to 4 times in standard length; caudal peduncle deep, the least depth about 8 times in standard length (peduncle depth 9 or 10 times in other ). Chin with 2 slender barbels which nearly reach, just reach, or extend slightly beyond rear margin of preopercle their length 1.3 to 1.7 times in head; maxilla reaching to or slightly posterior to front edge of eye; villiform teeth in jaws, on vomer and palatines (roof of mouth); gillrakers 18 to 22. First with 8 spines, the first spine minute; pectoral fin rays 14 or 15 (usually 14); pelvic fins about equal to pectoral fins. Lateral line scales 31 or 32; 4½ vertical rows of scales in space between dorsal fins; 10 or 11 vertical rows of scales along upper part of caudal peduncle. Colour: bronze green dorsally, shading ventrally to yellowish or whitish, with a yellowish brown stripe from eye to above midbase of caudal fin; barbels orange; dorsal fins yellowish, sometimes with faint reddish stripes; caudal fin brownish yellow, the lower lobe with a dusky posterior margin which is broad medially and narrows toward lobe tip. Some specimens reported with dark crossbars on caudal lobes. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Upeneus moluccensis: also with a single yellow stripe on body, but caudal fin lobes always striped; 27 to 31 gillrakers (18 to 22 in U. sundaicus).

U. sulphureus and U. taeniopterus: 2 narrow yellow stripes on side of body; also, pectoral fin rays usually 16 in U. sulphureus (14 or 15 in U. sundaicus).

U. bensasi and U. asymmetricus: first dorsal fin with 7 spines, the first longest (8 spines in U. sundaicus).

U. luzonius: a large, dark, saddle-like spot dorsally on caudal peduncle just behind second dorsal fin.

SIZE:

Maximum: 22 cm; common to 14 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: Upeneus sulphureus Within the area, believed to occur off Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. Outside the area, it extends eastward to Indonesia. Because of confusion with U. luzonius, the exact distribution of U. sundiacus is not known.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Coastal waters, throughout its range.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.

Caught mainly with bottom trawls; also with shore seines and trapnets.

Marketed mainly fresh. MULL Upen 6

1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: MULLIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)

Upeneus tragula Richardson, 1845

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Upeneus oligospilus Lachner, 1954

VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Freckled goatfish Fr - Rouget-souris à bande sombre Sp - Salmonete barborín

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body elongate, the depth 3.7 to 4.3 times in standard length. Chin with 2 slender barbels which usually fail to reach rear margin of preopercle, their length 1.45 to 1.9 times in head; maxilla reaching slightly posterior to front edge of eye; villiform teeth in bands in jaws, on vomer and palatines (roof of mouth); gillrakers on first arch 21 to 25. First dorsal fin with 8 spines, the first sine minute; pectoral rays 12 to 14 (usually 13); pelvic fins nearly as long as pectorals. Lateral line scales 28 to 32 modally 30 , 4½ vertical rows of scales in space between dorsal fins; 10 or 11 vertical scale rows along upper part of caudal peduncle. Colour: a dark reddish brown to blackish stripe passing from front of snout through eye along upper side of body to above midbase of caudal fin; head and body above stripe brownish to greenish grey, flecked with dark reddish brown or blackish, below white with rows of dark dots; barbels yellow; first dorsal fin whitish with 2 large irregular dark blotches, one in distal part and one at base; second dorsal fin with 3 irregular dark stripes; upper lobe of caudal fin with 4 to 6 blackish crossbands, the lower lobe with 5 to 7. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Upeneus vittatus: pectoral fin rays usually 16 (usually 13 in U. traquia); lower lobe of caudal fin with 3 or 4 blackish crossbands. U. taeniopterus: lateral line scales 36 to 38 (usually 28 to 32 in U. tragula); 2 yellow stripes on side of body.

U. luzonius: pectoral rays usually 14; gillrakers 19 to 22 (usually 21 to 25 in U. traqula); a large, dark saddle-like blotch dorsally on caudal peduncle just pos- terior to second dorsal fin (may be faint). Upeneus vittatus

SIZE:

Maximum: 30 cm; common to 23 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

Throughout most of the area, along the East African coast south to Delagoa Bay, apparently absent from the Red Sea. Outside the area, it extends eastward to the western Pacific where it ranges from southern Japan to New South Wales. A population in the "Gulf" was named U. oligospilus by Lachner (1954); however, this seems to be only subspecifically different at best.

Generally found on sand or silty sand bottom often in the vicinity of coral reefs, from depths of a few to at least 40 m. Usually encountered as solitary individuals.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Inshore waters, throughout its range; abundant in the Gulf of Manaar and Palk Bay.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.

Caught mainly with bottom trawls; also with shore seines and trapnets.

Marketed mainly fresh; also salt-cured.

MULL Upen 8

1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: MULLIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)

Upeneus taeniopterus Cuvier, 1829

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE : Upeneus arge Jordan & Evermann, 1902

VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Fin-stripe goatfish Fr - Rouget-souris rayé SP - Salmonete estriado

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body elongate, the depth 3.6 to 4.2 times in standard length. Chin with 2 slender barbels which nearly or just reach rear margin of preopercle, their length 1.5 to 1.6 times in head; maxilla reaching to below anterior third of eye; villiform teeth in bands in jaws, on vomer and palatines; gillrakers on first arch 21 to 24. First dorsal fin with 8 spines, the first minute; pectoral fin rays 13 or 14 (usually 14); pelvic fins nearly as long as pectorals. Lateral line scales 36 to 38; 5½ vertical rows of scales in space between dorsal fins; 12 or 13 vertical rows of scales along upper part of caudal peduncle. Colour: silvery pink to orangish on back, shading to silvery white on side and ventrally, with 2 narrow yellow stripes (one at level of upper part of eye and the other at midpectoral base); barbels whitish to yellow; upper lobe of caudal fin with 6 transverse blackish bands and lower lobe with 4 or 5, the 2 lowermost broader and darker. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Upeneus vittatus: pectoral fin rays 15 to 17 (usually 16); lower lobe of caudal fin with 3 or 4 blackish crossbands.

U. tragula: lateral line scales 28 to 32; a single blackish stripe on upper side of body.

SIZE: Upeneus vittatus

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

In the area, along the east African coast from about 4oN to 25oS, northeastern Madagascar, the Seychelles, South India and Sri Lanka. The distribution is rather spotty. Outside the area, it extends eastward to the Upeneus tragula Hawaiian Islands. A shallow-water species, often found on sandy bottoms near coral reefs.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Generally caught from coral reef areas and adjacent sand habitats.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught by seines, traps, gillnets and castnets. Marketed fresh.

click for next page