| Family: |
Drepaneidae (Sicklefishes) |
| Max. size: |
45 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 750.0 g |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; brackish; marine; depth range 10 - 75 m, |
| Distribution: |
Eastern Atlantic: West African coast, from Senegal to Angola (Ref. 7350, 81287). Also reported from the Canary Islands, Cape Verde (Ref. 7350) and Mauritania (Ref. 5377). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 8-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-18; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 20-21. Diagnosis: body deep and strongly compressed, its anterior profile very steep up to dorsal-fin origin, and strongly compressed; head small; snout short; mouth small, terminal, strongly protrusible, with fleshy lips; teeth slender and pointed, set in bands in upper jaw; roof of mouth toothless; dorsal fin deeply notched; 1st dorsal fin spine small, forward-pointing and visible only in young individuals; pectorals falcate, very long, their tips almost reaching to caudal-fin base; hind margin of caudal fin slightly rounded; pelvic fins thoracic; scales finely ctenoid, covering body, bases of dorsal and anal fins and head, except snout and preopercle; preopercular margin denticulate; lateral line strongly arched (Ref. 81287).
Coloration: silvery grey, darker on back, almost white on belly; sides with a series of 8 brown, more or less faded vertical bars, always more distinct in young individuals (Ref. 81287). |
| Biology: |
Neritic species (Ref. 7350). Essentially marine, often living in groups (Ref. 81287) over sandy and muddy bottoms (Ref. 2683), between 20 and 50 m depth, and entering coastal lagoons where sexual maturation begins (Ref. 81287). Feeds of fish eggs, benthic invertebrates and detritus (Ref. 28587). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 23 May 2012 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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