Species Sillago sihama (Forsskål, 1775)
Northern Whiting, Sand Smelt, Silver Sillago
Type data:
Holotype ZMUC P.45164 skin, Lohaja, Red Sea.- Sciaena malabarica Bloch, M.E. & Schneider, J.G. 1801. Systema Ichthyologiae Iconibus ex Illustratum. Berlin 584 pp. 110 pls. [81, pl. 19].
Type data:
Syntype(s) ZMB 576, Tranquebar, India. - Sillago acuta Cuvier, G.L. 1816. Le Règne Animal, distribué d'après son organisation, pour servir de base a l'histoire naturelle des animaux et d'introduction a l'anatomie comparée. Les reptiles et les poisons. Paris : Déterville Vol. 2 pp. 104-351. [258] [unnecessary substitute for Sciaena malabaricus Bloch & Schneider, 1801].
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- McKay, R.J. 1985. A revision of the fishes of the family Sillaginidae. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 22(1): 1-73 figs 1-18 [7]
Generic Combinations
- Sillago sihama (Forsskål, 1775). —
Gill, T.N. 1862. Synopsis of the sillaginoids. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia 13: 501-505 [dated 1861] [503]
Introduction
Saha et al. (2024) presented evidence suggesting that this species is restricted to the Red Sea and the western and northern Indian Ocean, with records from Australia based on misidentifications, possibly representing an undescribed species. We retain the species here until further work can resolve the identity of Australian material.
Distribution
States
Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia
Extra Distribution Information
Broome, WA (17º58´S) to Mackay, QLD (21º09´S); occasionaly enters lowermost reaches of freshwater streams; tropical, Indo-west Pacific.
IBRA
NT, Qld, WA: Arnhem Coast (ARC), Central Arnhem (CA), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Darwin Coastal (DAC), Dampierland (DL), Gulf Coastal (GUC), Gulf Plains (GUP), Northern Kimberley (NK), Tiwi Cobourg (TIW), Victoria Bonaparte (VB), Wet Tropics (WT)
IMCRA
Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)
Ecological Descriptors
Benthic, estuary, inshore, soft bottom.
Extra Ecological Information
1-60 m, usually above 20 m.
General References
McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part II. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 145–329 [178]
McKay, R.J. 1985. A revision of the fishes of the family Sillaginidae. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 22(1): 1-73 figs 1-18 [6]
McKay, R.J. 1999. Family Sillaginidae. pp. 2614-2629 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 pp. 2069-2790. [2629]
Saha, S., Bogorodsky, S.V., Baki, M.A., Gao, T., McKay, R.J., Alpermann, T.J. & Song, N. 2024. Assessment of the diversity of the family Sillaginidae in the Indian Ocean with emphasis on the taxonomic identity of Sillago sihama. Zootaxa 5493(5): 451-485
Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127 [43] (990)
Common Name References
McKay, R.J. 1985. A revision of the fishes of the family Sillaginidae. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 22(1): 1-73 figs 1-18 [6] (Northern Whiting, Sand Smelt)
McKay, R.J. 1999. Family Sillaginidae. pp. 2614-2629 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 pp. 2069-2790. [2629] (FAO) (Silver Sillago)
Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Northern Whiting)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27-Nov-2012 | 19-Sep-2024 | MODIFIED | ||
| 30-Mar-2010 | MODIFIED |