Mediterranean invasive species factsheet www.iucn-medmis.org
Species report Nemipterus randalli (Randall's threadfin bream) AFFILIATION FISHES
SCIENTIFIC NAME AND COMMON NAME REPORTS Nemipterus randalli 4
Key Identifying Features upper edge of the upper lobe, sometimes missing. The body is ellipsoid and slightly compressed. It is up to 30 cm in length, commonly 5–20 cm, It has a single, continuous dorsal fin with 10 although in the Mediterranean they seem spines and 9 soft rays, and a slightly pointed anal smaller. The upper part of the body is pinkish, fin (3 spines, 7 soft rays). The pectoral fin (15–17 becoming silvery on the ventral surface. There soft rays) is long and pointed. are 3 or 4 pale yellow stripes along the sides, and a golden dot on the pectoral base. The dorsal fin is pale bluish, with the upper margin edged in red, with closely packed yellow markings on the lower three-quarters of the fin. The anal fin is pale bluish with a narrow yellow medial band. The eye is salmon pink. The tail fin has a red margin and is forked, with a characteristic long filament extending from the
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Other species that look similar
Identification and Habitat
Randall's threadfin bream is a benthic species, occurring on open sandy and muddy sea beds down to depths of 20–200 m; in the Mediterranean it is mainly found at 30–80 m.
Similar Species
The long filament that extends from the upper edge of the upper lobe of the tail fin distinguishes this species from others. If this tail filament is broken, medium-sized Randall's threadfin breams look like some Sparidae species (Pagellus spp.). (Pagellus) species, however, have a first dorsal fin with 11–13 spines (compared with 10 spines in N. randalli), and molar teeth in the jaw. Ecological Impacts
History and Route of Randall's threadfin bream feeds principally on Introduction small benthic invertebrates (polychaetes, crustaceans, cephalopods and molluscs) and Randall's threadfin bream is widespread in the small fishes. Its rapid spread and increasing western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea and abundance can reduce the biodiversity of benthic the East African Coast. In the Mediterranean it decapod crustaceans in particular, as well as was first recorded off Israel in 2005, as native fish communities feeding on these Nemipterus japonicus; it has subsequently been species. recorded from Lebanon, Egypt, and from Mersin Bay to Antalya in Turkey. Nemipterus randalli appears to have an established population in the eastern Mediterranean that extends at least from Haifa Bay, Israel, to the Cevlik coast of Iskenderun Bay, Turkey.
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Economic Impacts
In the Western Indian Ocean, Randall’s threadfin bream is an important target species for local fisheries (small commercial trawlers). In the Mediterranean, it is caught in large numbers by trawling and to a lesser extent by trammel nets and long lines. It may well form the basis of an important future fishery in some Mediterranean areas.
Management Options
These include a) early eradication of new populations by MPA technicians through spear fishing, and b) maintenance of healthy and abundant assemblages of top predators to encourage natural control through predation.
Further Reading http://www.ciesm.org/atlas/Nemipterusrandalli.php
Bariche, M., 2012. Field identification guide to the living marine resources of the Eastern and Southern Mediterranean. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. Rome, FAO. 610 pp.
2013-2021 © IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation. More info: www.iucn-medmis.org Pag. 3/5 Mediterranean invasive species factsheet www.iucn-medmis.org
Legend
Algae Angiosperm Cnidarians Centre for Mediterranean Molluscs Crustaceans Ascidians Cooperation Combjellies / Fishes Ctenophores
More Information: Guide and reports platform for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Mediterranean. www.iucn-medmis.org
2013-2021 © IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation. More info: www.iucn-medmis.org Pag. 4/5 Mediterranean invasive species factsheet www.iucn-medmis.org
MPAs, Country Date Density Measure
Tyre Coast, Lebanon Before 2013 -- --
Gokova, Turkey 23/06/2014 -- --
-- 20/09/2014 -- --
-- 22/09/2014 -- --
How to cite this tab: Nemipterus randalli - Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet for Mediterranean Network of MPAs. From Online Database MedMIS (IUCN Center for Mediterranean Cooperation, Download date 24/09/2021.
More information about this species from: Otero, M., Cebrian, E., Francour, P., Galil, B., Savini, D. 2013. Monitoring Marine Invasive Species in Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): A strategy and practical guide for managers. Malaga, Spain: IUCN. 136 pages www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2013-008-Es.pdf .
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