Pagellus natalensis

Pagellus natalensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Sparidae
Genus: Pagellus
Species:
P. natalensis
Binomial name
Pagellus natalensis
Synonyms[2]
  • Pagellus bellottii natalensis Steindachner, 1903

Pagellus natalensis, the Natal pandora, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sparidae, which includes the seabreams and porgies. This species is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean.

Taxonomy

Pagellus natalensis was first formally described as a subspecies of Pagellus bellottii, P. b. natalensis, in 1903 by the Austrian ichthyologist Franz Steindachner with its type locality given as Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.[3] The genus Pagellus is placed in the family Sparidae within the order Spariformes by the 5th edition of Fishes of the World.[4] Some authorities classify this genus in the subfamily Pagellinae,[5] but the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise subfamilies within the Sparidae.[4]

Etymology

Pagellus natalensis has the specific name natalensis meaning "of Natal", the type locality being in, what was then, the Colony of Natal.[6]

Description

Pagellus natalensis has 12 spines and 10 or 11 soft rays supporting its dorsal fin while its anal fin is supported by 3 spines and 10 soft rays. The fusiform, elongate body, the standard length is 2.8 to 3 times the depth, is moderately compressed. The dorsal profile of the head is convex between the upper lip and the origin of the dorsal fin. Both jaws have small pointed teeth at the front and 2 rows of molar-like teeth at the back It has a silvery red body, lighter in colour ventrally, with pink fins.[7] This is the smalled species in the genus Pagellus with a maximum published total length of 30 cm (12 in).[2]

Distribution and habitat

Pagellus natalensis is found in the southwestern Indian Ocean where it occurs from Mossel Bay in the Western Cape to Bazaruto in Mozambique, it is also found off southern Madagascar.[1] This species occurs at depths down to around 150 m (490 ft) over sandy and muddy substrates.[2]

Biology

Pagellus natalensis Afeeds on invertebrates associated with sandy bottoms and reefs, its diet includes small crustaceans, echinoderms, polychaetes, fish and molluscs. It is gonochoristic and spawning takes place in winter and spring, with a peak in August and September.[1]

Fisheries

Pahellus natalensis is too small in size to be of interest to commercial fisheries,[7] but it is taken as bycatch and this may be used as bait.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Mann, B.Q.; Buxton, C.D.; Russell, B.; Pollard, D. & Carpenter, K.E. (2014). "Pagellus natalensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T170242A1299928. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T170242A1299928.en. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Pagellus natalensis". FishBase. October 2023 version.
  3. ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Pagellus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b Nelson, J.S.; Grande, T.C.; Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 502–506. doi:10.1002/9781119174844. ISBN 978-1-118-34233-6. LCCN 2015037522. OCLC 951899884. OL 25909650M.
  5. ^ Parenti, P. (2019). "An annotated checklist of the fishes of the family Sparidae". FishTaxa. 4 (2): 47–98.
  6. ^ Christopher Scharpf (12 January 2024). "Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 6): Families GERREIDAE, LETHRINIDAE, NEMIPTERIDAE and SPARIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b Yukio Iwatsuki and Phillip C Heemstra (2022). "Family Sparidae". In Phillip C Heemstra; Elaine Heemstra; David A Ebert; Wouter Holleman; and John E Randall (eds.). Coastal Fishes of the Western Indian Ocean (PDF). Vol. 3. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. pp. 284–315. ISBN 978-1-990951-32-9.