| Family: |
Sparidae (Porgies) |
| Max. size: |
34.5 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range - 50 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Indian Ocean: from Duqum, southern Oman to Qatar, off the coasts of Kuwait (probably including Iran and Pakistan), to Trivandrum, south-western India. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 11-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: deep body, 2.03-2.38 (mean 2.21); D XI,11 or XII,10; scale rows between fifth dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 4 1/2, scale rows above lateral line 4 1/2-5 1/2, scale rows below 12 1/2-13 1/2; second anal-fin spine [17.5-24.2% (mean 20ยท5%) of SL], 1.31-1.52 (mean 1.39) in 2AS/3AS; pored lateral-line scales 42-45 (mean 43.9); first soft dorsal-fin ray slightly longer than last dorsal-fin spine; pelvic and anal fins vivid or strong yellow, lower caudal-fin lobe yellow (lighter or whitish yellow in larger adults); no black streaks proximally on inter-radial membranes between yellow anal-fin rays; clear black
blotches are usually absent just beneath inter-radial membranes between dorsal-fin rays but upper
dorsal-fin membrane often with darker margin; at the origin of lateral line a weak diffuse dark blotch usually covering first pored lateral-line scale, continuing as a dense dark shading over upper part of posterior opercle (Ref. 93743). |
| Biology: |
Feeds mainly on echinoderms, worms, crustaceans and mollusks. Mainly exploited by artisanal fisheries. Sold fresh in markets (Ref. 3507). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 November 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
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