Sparidentex jamalensis

description

Description. Body relatively deep and compressed; mouth somewhat oblique, lips thick; snout pointed, two nostrils just in front of both eyes, anterior nostril small and rounded and posterior one long oval-like or slit-like; upper jaw protruding slightly in front of lower jaw; maxilla reaching to bellow mideye level (pupil or center of orbit); at front of each jaw, 6 enlarged fang-like slightly curved conical teeth at anterior portion of both jaws, two or three villiform teeth rows in lower jaw and three to four villiform teeth rows on upper jaw; gill rakers 15 – 18 (upper + lower limb, 6 – 7 + 9 – 11); preopercular flange scale-less, its posterior margin weakly serrated; low scaly sheath on soft dorsal and anal-fin ray bases; dorsal-fin spines strong, first one is smaller (5 – 7 % of SL), 4 th and 5 th longer (13 – 16 % of SL); first anal-fin spine short (3 – 6 % of SL), 2 nd anal-fin spine heavy and long (17 – 26 % of SL), third anal-fin spine thin and shorter (13 – 15 % of SL) than 2 nd anal-fin spine; pectoral-fin long, its length slightly greater than head length, tip nearly reaching to anal opening; pelvic-fin spine longer than snout length; first ray of pelvicfin intruded and

The sparid fishes of Pakistan, with new distribution records

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Following combination of characters of Sparidentex jamalensis distinguishes it from Sparidentex hasta: dorsal-fin rays XI, 11; anal-fin rays III, 8; scale rows between the 5 th dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 3 ½, scale rows between the ninth dorsal-fin spine base to lateral line 3 ½, scale rows below first dorsal spine to the lateral line 4 ½, scale rows below the lateral line 12 ½; pored lateral line scales 45 – 47; body depth 37 – 41 %, head length 33 – 38 %, snout deep 10 – 12 %, caudal peduncle length 18 – 20 % of SL; no molariform teeth in both jaws. Second anal-fin spine distinctly stouter and longer than 3 rd anal-fin spine, ratio of 2 nd anal-fin spine / 3 rd anal-fin spine 1.4.

The sparid fishes of Pakistan, with new distribution records

distribution

Distribution. Currently known only from Pakistan. It is highly probable that this species may also occur in the coastal waters of northern Arabian Sea, India and Persian Gulf. ...... continued on the next page 1 st dorsal-fin spine 5.6 – 7.4 (DS) length 5.2 – 6.9 (6.0) 6.8 – 8.9 (8.0) 5.9 – 8.7 (7.6) 6.5 – 8.0 (7.5) 4.5 – 5.9 (5.2) 5 – 7 (6) (6.6) ...... continued on the next page Proportions as % of SL ...... continued on the next page Diplodus Diplodus Rhabdosargus Rhabdosargus Argyrops Cheimerius Pagellus capensis (n = omanensis sarba haffara spinifer nufar affinis 6) (n = 1) (n = 7) (n = 3) (n = 6) (n = 2) (n = 1) Body width at pectoral- 14.2 – 15.9 13.6 – 16.6 13.3 – 17.7 12.5 – 14 fin base (15.2) 15.8 (15.5) 13.5 – 16 (15) (16.1) (13.4) 18 12.3 – 15.4 14.2 – 16.8 14.7 – 16.6 15.7 – 17.4 13.3 – 13.9 Snout length (13.8) 13.6 (15.3) (15.7) (16.7) (13.6) 12.2 9.2 – 10.2 Orbit diameter 8.0 – 9.9 (9.0) 8.5 7.7 – 10 (9) 8.2 – 8.8 (8.5) (9.7) 6.8 – 7.2 (7.0) 9.8 Dermal eye opening 8.2 – 8.6 (8.4) 7 7.5 – 8.7 (8.0) 7.3 – 8.1 (7.6) 9 – 10 – 8.3 1 st dorsal-fin spine (DS) length 4.4 – 6.8 (5.9) 4.5 4.2 – 5.9 (5.2) 4.5 – 6.1 (5.1) – 3.0 – 3.4 (3.2) 10.7 ...... continued on the next page

The sparid fishes of Pakistan, with new distribution records

materials_examined

Color of fresh specimens. Head and dorsal part of body dull olive silvery, becoming silvery-white up to belly; scales are with diffuse black margins that shows longitudinal and transverse narrow stripes on the body; dorsal-fin and anal rays gray, soft rays hyaline, membranes of the dorsal and anal-fins are dusky grey; pectoral-fins light yellow to whitish and pelvic-fins light grayish to whitish; a black spot in pectoral axilla is always present.

The sparid fishes of Pakistan, with new distribution records