Scientific Name
Argyrosomus inodorus

Common Name
Mild meagre

Biology
Between the Kei River and Cape Agulhas, this species rarely enters estuaries or the surf zone, but becomes more abundant in the surf zone on the west coast of South Africa. Restricted to a depth of 1-20 m in Namibia, apparently due to anoxic conditions beyond this depth. Highly regarded as a table fish. Marketed mostly fresh, but sometimes frozen (Ref. 11025).

Classification

Classified By

Griffiths & Heemstra, 1995

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Drums or croakers (Sciaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Southeast Atlantic

Distribution

Southeast Atlantic: Namibia southwards around the Cape of Good Hope and northwards at least as far as the Kei River in South Africa.

Range

17°S - 38°S, 11°E - 29°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

100 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - 100 m (Ref. 11025)

Trophic Level

4.16 s.e. 0.71 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

145 cm

Common Length

115 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5020 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (68 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.09-0.12; tm=1.3-2.4)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated