Meristic formula D, V-VI + 28-34; A, III + 22-28; P, 16-18; V, I + 5; LL, 48-53

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body very deep, nearly circular and very compressed. Dorsal and anal fins of adults moderately deep, juveniles have very elevated dorsal and anal fins. Caudal fin double emarginated. Small pectoral and pelvic fins, the later is pointed. Small terminal mouth. Dorsal profile of snout almost vertical, its steepness continuing to include the nape. Small slender bands of tricuspid teeth in the jaws. Five pores in each side on the chins. Gill membranes attached to isthmus. Operculum edge smooth. Body covered with finely ctenoid scales extending to the base of median fins. color : body grey-brown with broad dark grey bars, the first on the head, the second at dorsal fin origin and the third at the middle of dorsal fin. A distinct dark spot between pectoral and pelvic fins. common size : 20-50 cm (max. 70 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Alectis alexandrinus and Brama brama – Distinct forked caudal fin. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds probably on large invertebrates. Young specimens often observed associated with drifting algae; they also swim in close proximity to artificial objects in the water habitat : shallow coastal waters usually rich with vegetation to depth of 70 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Turkey, Bodrum, 2006. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Wide Indo-west Pacific distribution from the Red Sea and South Africa to Australia and Palau. Mediterranean : Turkey, Bodrum (Southern Aegean Sea) (Bilecenoglu and Kaya,  2006). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare, only a single specimen was captured in the Mediterranean. MODE OF INTRODUCTION Probably an escapee from the aquarium trade. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS In the countries of its original distribution caught in small numbers in artisinal fishery and therefore has a rather small commercial value.

KEY REFERENCES Bilecenoglu M. and Kaya M., 2006. A new alien fish in the Mediterranean Sea – Platax teira (Forsskäl, 1775) (Osteichthyes: Ephippidae). Aquatic Invasions, 1(2): 80-83. Carpenter K.E., Krupp F., Jones D.A. and Zajonz U., 1997. FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of Kuwait, Eastern Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. FAO of the United Nations, Rome. Randall J.R., 1995. Coastal Fishes of Oman. University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu, Hawai'i.   FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

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