Smallmouth threadfin (Polydactylus microstomus)

Scientific name: Polydactylus microstomus Bleeker, 1851

Smallmouth threadfin (Polydactylus microstomus)

The Smallmouth threadfin (Polydactylus microstomus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Polynemidae. Native range: Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific, Tamil Nudu, India to Myanmar and Phuket, Thailand; then from Taiwan to Indonesia and New Caledonia.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12; Vertebrae: 10 - 14. With 5 pectoral filaments; uppermost not reaching to (or extending slightly beyond) posterior tip of pectoral fin. Pectoral fin, rays short, 17-20% of SL; all rays branched except uppermost 1 or 2. Second dorsal spine long, 7-9% of SL. Well-developed swim bladder. A large black spot anteriorly on lateral line. Posterior margin of maxilla reaching to (or slightly short of) level of posterior margin of adipose eyelid. Lower tip of 7th proximal pterygiophore of 1st dorsal fin directed backwards. Lateral line squamation on caudal fin unbranched, extending to upper end of lower caudal fin lobe.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Polydactylus microstomus
Family
Polynemidae (Threadfins)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
25.0
Common length
20.0
Depth range
2–55 m (7–180 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 2 - 55 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific: Tamil Nudu, India to Myanmar and Phuket, Thailand; then from Taiwan to Indonesia and New Caledonia.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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