Misidentification Nemipterus japonicus   Meristic formula D, X + 9; A, III + 7; P, 15-17; V, I + 5; LL, 47-49  photo: David Darom

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body ellipsoid and slightly compressed. A continuous dorsal fin, its membrane not incised. Anal fin slightly pointed posteriorly. Caudal fin forked with a long filament extending from the upper edge of the upper lobe (This typical filament is often missing). Pectoral fin long and pointed reaching back to the anus. First ray of pelvic fin elongated reaching at least anal fin origin. Terminal mouth. A single row of conical teeth on both jaws. 5-6 canine teeth on premaxilla and the dentary. No molar teeth. Body covered with scales including on the upper surface of the head reaching the center of eye level. Three rows of scales on the preoperculum. color : body pinkish, darker on the back becoming pinkish-silvery on the belly. Four pale yellow to golden –yellow stripes along the flank, the upper start at eye level and runs to caudal peduncle. The other three close to each other. Yellow spots on the cheek and the operculum. common size : 5-20 cm (max. 30 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Pagellus spp. and Pagrus spp. – Presence of molar teeth; 11-13 dorsal spines and 10-11 dorsal rays. Dentex spp. – No filament in caudal fin. Apogon imberbis – Two dorsal fins. Anthias anthias and Callanthias ruber – Three flat spines on the upper posterior corner of the operculum. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds on various invertebrates and small fishes. Eggs and larvae planktonic. habitat : inhabits open sandy and muddy substrate at depths 20-200 m in its original area of distribution. In the Mediterranean it is caught mainly at 30-80 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Israel, Haifa Bay, 2006 [2005] (as Nemipterus japonicus). DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Western Indian Ocean from Durban, South Africa, Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf to India. Mediterranean : Israel (Golani and Sonin, 2006); Mersin Bay to Antalya, Turkey. ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very common. MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS An important target species in the fishery throughout its distribution, especially in the Gulf of Suez. In the Mediterranean it is caught in large numbers by trawl and to a lesser extent by trammel nets and long line.

KEY REFERENCES Golani D. and Sonin O., 2006. The Japanese threadfin bream Nemipterus japonicus, a new Indo-Pacific fish in the Mediterranean Sea. J. Fish Biology, 68: 940-943. Russell B.C., 1986. Review of the western Indian Ocean species of Nemipterus Swainson 1839, with description of a new species (Pisces: Nemipteridae). Senckenbergiana biologia, 67: 19-35. Russell B.C., 1990. FAO species catalogue. Family Nemipteridae. An annoted and illustrated catalogue of Nemipterid species known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis 125 (Vol. 12). FAO of the United Nations, Rome. Russell B.C., 1993. A review of the Threadfin Breams of the genus Nemipterus (Nemipteridae) from Japan and Taiwan with description of a new species. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology, 39: 295-310. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: January 2009 ©ciesm 2002