Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch, 1791)
Japanese threadfin bream
Nemipterus japonicus
photo by Cook, D.C.

Family:  Nemipteridae (Threadfin breams, Whiptail breams)
Max. size:  34 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 596.0 g; max. reported age: 8 years
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 5 - 80 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7. This species is distinguished by the following characters: lower margin of eye above a line from tip of snout to upper base of pectoral fins; a line drawn up from the posterior edge of suborbital reaching the dorsal profile 2 to 4 scale rows before origin of dorsal fin; pectoral fins very long, 1-1.3 in HL, reaching to or just beyond level of origin of anal fin; pelvic fins moderately long, 1.2-1.6 in HL, reaching to or just beyond anus; caudal fin moderately forked, upper lobe slightly longer than lower and produced into a short or moderately long filament. Colour: upper part of body pinkish, becoming silvery below; top of head behind eye with a golden sheen; 11-12 pale golden-yellow stripes along body from behind head to base of caudal fin; a prominent red-suffused yellow blotch below origin of lateral line; dorsal fin whitish, margin of fin yellow, edged with red; a pale lemon stripe near base of dorsal fin, this stripe narrow anteriorly and widening on posterior part of fin; anal fin whitish with pale lemon broken lines or scribblings over most of fin; caudal fin pink, upper tip and filament yellow (Ref. 9785).
Biology:  Very abundant in coastal waters, found on mud or sand bottoms, usually in schools. Feeds mainly on small fishes, crustaceans, mollusks (mainly cephalopods), polychaetes and echinoderms. Marketed mainly fresh, but also frozen, steamed, dried-salted, dry-smoked, fermented or made into fish balls and fish meal.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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