| Pristigasteridae (Pristigasterids) |
| 30 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
|
pelagic-neritic; depth range 0 - 25 m, |
| Africa: West African coasts and estuarine areas from Senegal to Angola (Ref. 188, 81270). |
|
Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 45-50. Diagnosis: Body moderately deep, compressed, belly with 25 to 27 + 7 or 8 sharp scutes (Ref. 188, 81270). Dorsal fin at or before midpoint of body; pelvic fins small; anal fin long, with more than 40 finrays, its origin below dorsal fin base (Ref. 188). Swimbladder with two short tubes passing back in the muscles on either side of haemal spines (Ref. 188). Other clupeoid fishes in the area are more slender, have a much shorter anal fin and the lower jaw is not strongly projecting (Ref. 188).
Description: Body deep and strongly compressed, its depth comprised from 2.7 to 3.5 times in standard length (Ref. 2919, 81270). Eyes large (Ref. 188, 2919, 81270). Lower jaw prominent; no median notch on the premaxilla of upper jaw (Ref. 2919, 81270). Lower limb of first gill arch with 22-28 gillrakers (Ref. 2919, 81270). Anal fin very long, with 45-50 rays; pelvic fins with 6-8 rays; pectoral fins with 12-14 rays (Ref. 2919, 81270). Number of scutes: 25-27 prepelvic scutes and 6-8 postpelvic scutes (Ref. 2919, 81270).
Colouration: In alcohol-preserved specimens, body silvery and a dark band runs from occiput to base of dorsal fin (Ref. 2919, 81270). |
| Found in the marine environment, pelagic, along beaches and just offshore, down to about 25m; also in lagoons and estuaries, penetrating into almost freshwater (Ref. 188). It feeds on small planktonic animals, like crustaceans (Ref. 188). |
|
(Ref. 96402)
|
| harmless |
|
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