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NEMIP Nem 2
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: NEMIPTERIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Nemipterus bleekeri (Day, 1875)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Nemipterus delagoae Smith, 1941
VERNACULAR NAMES:
FAO : En - Delagoa threadfin bream Fr - Cohana delogoa Sp - Baga delagoa NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body moderately deep, with a convex dorsal profile and a moderately deep snout. Dorsal fin continuous with 10 spines and 9 soft rays, without a notch between spinous and soft portions. No filaments on fins.
Colour: 5 to 7 greenish-yellow upwardly curved stripes on body, curvature of upper stripes more marked; spaces between stripes silvery-yellow; in fresh specimens the bands appear raised. Dorsal fin rosy, with yellow- orange margin and a grey-blue band below it; pelvic fins milky white, with silvery axillary scales; anal fin milky white or translucent blue, with 3 or 4 longitudinal yellow stripes; caudal fin rosy, yellowish in middle, deeper red on fork margin and tips of lobes; lower margin may be whitish.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Nemipterus peronii: interspinous dorsal fin mem- brane deeply notched; no upward-slanting yellow stripes on body; a reddish-brown spot at origin of lateral line.
Other Nemipterus species: dorsal and/or caudal fins with filamentous extensions.
N. peronii
Scolopsis and Parascolopsis species: 4 to 7 rows of scales on preopercle (3 in Nemipterus); also, a backward pointing suborbital spine present in Scolopsis.
SIZE:
Maximum: 30 cm; common to 25 cm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
Throughout most of the northern and western por- tions of the area, including almost the entire east African coast, Madagascar, Seychelles, the Red Sea, the "Gulf", the Arabian Sea, coasts of Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. Elsewhere, it occurs throughout the northern part of the Eastern Indian Ocean. Bottom-living to depths of 100 m.
Food and general biology unknown.
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 and on lines. Marketed fresh and dried salted.
NEMIP Nem 4
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: NEMIPTERIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch, 1791)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None
VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO En - Japanese threadfin bream Fr - Cohana japonaise Sp - bagajaponesa NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body moderately deep (depth in front of dorsal fin about 2.8 to 3.2 times in standard length), with a convex dorsal profile and a moderately deep snout. Dorsal fin with 10 spines and 9 soft rays, continuous, without a notch between spinous and soft portions; upper lobe of caudal fin prolonged into a filament, no filaments in other fins.
Colour: a brownish saddle on top of head. One to 3 longitudinal, yellow lines above lateral line, 7 to 9 below, and a yellow band along belly; a bright Orange-red blotch near origin of lateral line. Dorsal fin rosy, with a yellow/orange margin and a broad yellow band along base; pelvic fins yellowish at base and with yellow axillary scales; anal fin milky white or pale blue with faint, wavy, yellow lines which may form a reticulate pattern in larger fish; caudal fin red, tip of upper lobe and filament bright yellow. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
All other Nemipterus species: colour pattern dif- ferent. Furthermore, body much more slender in N. metopias (body depth 3.9 times or more in standard length, against 3.2 times or less in N. japonicus); no prolonged caudal fin rays in N. bleekeri and N. peronii).
Scolopsis and Parascolopsis species: 4 to 7 rows of scales on preopercle (3 rows in Nemipterus). Also a backward pointing subopercular spine in Scolopsis.
N. metopias SIZE (excluding caudal filament):
Maximum: 30 cm; common to 25 cm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
Throughout most of the area; eastward to Indonesia, the Philippines and southern Japan.
Bottom-living, in depths to about 60 m. Males grow faster and to a larger size than females.
Feeds on a wide range of bottom-living animals including worms, crustaceans, mussels, cepalopods and fishes. The diet changes little with size, but small fish prefer small crustaceans (copepods and ostracods).
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, gillnets and on lines. Marketed fresh and dried salted.
NEMIP Nem 7
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: NEMIPTERIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Nemipterus metopias (Bleeker, 1852)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None
VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Slender threadfin bream Fr - Cohana élégante Sp - Baga elegante NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body slender (depth in front of dorsal fin about 3.9 to 4.6 times in standard length), with a convex dorsal profile and a short snout. Dorsal fin with 10 spines and 9 soft rays continuous without a notch between spinous and soft portions; upper lobe of caudal fin prolonged into a short filament, no filaments in other tins.
Colour: head pinkish brown, with 2 clearly defined, short, yellow bands about half as wide as pupil, one extending from nostril across (but not pupil and the other from below the eye extending forward to upper jaw; faint yellow lines along flanks and a broad yellow band along belly, but ventral midline silvery. Dorsal fin pale greenish-yellow with a narrow red margin paralleled immediately below by a thin yellow line and pale blue band; pelvic fins hyaline, with axillary area and axillary scale yellow; anal fin white, with a median row of yellow squarish spots; caudal fin pink with inner margin of fork deep red, and tip of upper lobe and its filament yellow.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
All other Nemipterus species: colour pattern different; body deeper. Furthermore, no prolonged caudal fin filament in N. bleekeri and N. peronii, a prolonged dorsal fin filament in N. nematophorus.
Parascolopsis and Scolopsis species: 4 to 7 rows of scales on preopercle (3 in Nemipterus). Also, a backward- pointing suborbital spine in Scolopsis. SIZE:
Maximum: 25 cm; common to 20 cm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
Within the area, reported from off East Africa, Seychelles, in the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, coasts of Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka, but probably more widespread. Elsewhere, it occurs in the Eastern Indian Ocean and Indo-Malay region.
Bottom-living, at depth of 30 to 100 m.
Little is known of the biology of this species.
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 and bottom lines. Marketed fresh and dried salted. NEMIP Nem 8
1983 FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: NEMIPTERIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Nemipterus nematophorus (Bleeker, 1853)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None
VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Doublewhip threadfin bream Fr - Cohana deux fils Sp - Baga de dos hebras
NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body moderately deep (its depth in front. of dorsal fin about 3.U to 3.5 times in standard length), with a convex dorsal profile and a short snout; eye moderately large. Dorsal fin with 10 spines and 9 soft rays continuous without a notch between the spinous and soft portions; 1st and 2nd spines close together and forming a single, very long filament; anal fin with 3 spines and 7 soft rays; upper lobe of caudal fin prolonged into a filament. Colour: head without yellow bands or streaks; 4 longitudinal yellow lines along flanks below lateral line; belly with a yellow stripe on each side of silver midline. A yellow spot below origin of lateral line but no dark saddles on back. Filament of dorsal fin bright yellow, rest of fin rosy, with yellow or orange margin; pelvic fins whitish, with 2nd and 3rd rays more or less pink, bases and axillary scales yellow; anal fin milky white, hyaline or pale blue, with a single yellow stripe; caudal fin rosy, with upper tip and filament yellow.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
All other species of Nemipteridae: no dorsasl fin filament; colour pattern different. SIZE:
Maximum: 25 cm; common to 20 cm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: Within the area, reported from the west and south coasts of India and from Sri Lanka. Elsewhere, it occurs in the Eastern Indian Ocean and in the South China Sea. Bottom-living, on coral, on rocky or muddy sand bottoms, in depths of 10 to 60 m.
Feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates.
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. Marketed fresh and dried salted. NEMIP Nem 12
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: NEMIPTERIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Nemipterus peronii (Valenciennes, 1830)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: Nemipterus tolu (Valenciennes, 1830) (as used in SIS for Areas 57/71)
VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Peron's threadfin bream Fr - Cohana tolu Sp - Baga tolú
NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body slender, with a convex dorsal profile and a moderately deep snout. Dorsal fin with 10 spines, of which the 5th to 8th are longest, and 9 soft rays continuous without notch between spinous and soft portions. Interspinous membrane of dorsal fin deeply notched; no filaments on fins.
Colour: several faint yellow lines along flanks. A reddish-brown spot at origin of lateral line; in fresh specimens 8 or 9 indistinct dark, saddle-like blotches along back. Dorsal fin translucent or yellow-tinged, its margin red, with a very narrow yellow-orange stripe immediately below; pelvic fins white, their bases and axillary scales yellow; anal fin milky white, usually translucent or partly pale yellow, particularly in the form of a medium band; caudal fin rosy, its lower margin whitish, tip of upper lobe rosy or yellowish, fork margin red. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
All other Nemipterus species: colour pattern different; interspinous membrane of dorsal fin not deeply notched; prolonged caudal fin rays present in all other species except N. bleekeri. Scolopsis and Parascolopsis species: 4 to 7 rows of scales on preopercle (3 rows in Nemipterus). Also, a backward-pointing subopercular spine in Scolopsis species. Other Nemipterus species
SIZE:
Maximum: 20 cm; common to 15 cm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR: N. peroni
Throughout the northern part of the area including the Red Sea, the "Gulf" and the coasts of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Elsewhere, it occurs in the Eastern Indian Ocean and in the South China Sea. Bottom-living, usually in waters shallower than 60 m. Feeds on bottom-living animals.
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 and on lines. Marketed fresh and dried salted.
NEMIP Para 1
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS FAMILY: NEMIPTERIDAE FISHING AREA 51 (W. Indian Ocean)
Parascolopsis aspinosa (Rao & Rao, 1981)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None
VERNACULAR NAMES: FAO : En - Smooth dwarf monocle bream Fr - Mamila lisse Sp - Besugato liso NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body moderately deep (depth in front of dorsal fin about 2.5 to 3 times in standard length), with a convex dorsal profile and a short snout. Eye large, suborbital margin smooth; gillrakers on first arch 10 to 17. Dorsal fin with 10 spines and 9 soft rays, continuous, unnotched; anal fin with 3 spines (the 2nd and 3rd about same size) and 7 soft rays; pectoral fins with 2 unbranched and 15 branched rays. Predorsal scales (on top of head) not extending forward onto snout, reaching to level of anterior marqin of pupil; 5 transverse rows of scales on cheek; lower limb of preopercle unsealed. Colour: overall orange; 6 light reddish saddles on body of which 2 are located on caudal peduncle; a dark blackish blotch along dorsal fin base between the 8th dorsal spine and trie 1st ray; pectoral fins yellowish, anal fin pale rose. DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Other Parascolopsis species: no black blotch on middle of dorsal fin base. Furthermore, predorsal scales extending forward beyond eyes in P. boesemani and P. townsendi.
Scolopsis species: a strong suborbital spine present.
Nemipterus species: preopercle with only 3 rows of scales.
SIZE:
Maximum: 20 cm; common to 15 cm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
Throughout the northern portion of the area, including the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, and the coasts of Pakistan, India and Possibly Sri Lanka. Inhabits offshore waters, ranging in depth from 60 to 500 m.
Usually found over soft bottoms.
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:
Deeper waters throughout its range.
CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:
Separate statistics are not reported for this species. Caught with bottom trawls. Marketed fresh and dried salted.
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