Family NEMIPTERIDAE

Nemipteridae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

Pentapodus vitta

© Copyright A.R. McCulloch 1914

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Introduction

The family Nemipteridae comprises 62 species belonging to five genera. Thirty-six species in the five known genera are found in Australian waters. They are commonly referred to as various types of breams depending on the genus (threadfin — Nemipterus; whiptail — Pentapodus; monocle-Scolopsis; dwarf monocle — Parascolopsis; coral-Scaevius).

Nemipterids are inhabitants of coral reefs and deeper offshore waters of the continental shelf in the Indo-west Pacific region. They generally prefer open bottoms that consist primarily of sand, mud or rubble. They are solitary or occur in aggregations, mostly in shallow water, but some members of the genera Nemipterus and Parascolopsis may penetrate depths in excess of 300 m. The diet includes mainly small fishes, cephalopods, crustaceans and polychaetes. The body is relatively elongate and laterally compressed. There is a single dorsal fin containing 10 spines and nine soft rays. The anal fin contains three spines and seven soft rays (except eight in one species). The cheek is fully scaled and species of Scolopsis have a series of spines on the posterior margin of the suborbital bone. Maximum size reached is about 35 cm. They are important food fishes, particularly in South-East Asia.

The nemipterid fishes were reviewed by Russell (1990) and most Australian species are treated in Russell (2001). We thank B.C. Russell for his assistance in preparing this section.

General References

Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. 2006. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp. [1241]

McCulloch, A.R. 1914. Report on some fishes obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and South-Western Australia. Part 2. Biological Results of the Fishing Experiments carried on by the F.I.S. Endeavour 1909-1914 2(3): 77-165 figs 1-15 pls 13-34 [pl. 21]

Russell, B.C. 1990. FAO Species Catalogue. Nemipterid fishes of the World (Threadfin breams, Whiptail breams, Monocle breams, Dwarf monocle breams, and Coral breams — Family Nemipteridae). Fisheries Synopsis No. 125, Vol. 12. Rome : FAO 149 pp. VIII pls.

Russell, B.C. 2001. Nemipteridae. pp. 3051-3089 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 5 2791-3379 pp.

Common Name References

Allen, G.R. & Steene, R.C. 1988. Fishes of Christmas Island Indian Ocean. Christmas Island : Christmas Island Natural History Association 197 pp. [67] (Coral Bream)

Pollard, J. (ed.) 1980. G.P. Whitley's Handbook of Australian Fishes. North Sydney : Jack Pollard Publishing Pty Ltd 629 pp. [165] (Butterfly Bream)

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