FAMILIES - Detail

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Family Sparidae - Porgies

Order:

Perciformes

Class:

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

No. of Genera:

No. of Species:

112

Environment:

Fresh: Yes Brackish: Yes Marine: Yes

Aquarium:

some

First Fossil Record:

lower Tertiary, lower Eocene Ref.: Berg, L.S..1958

Remark:

Chiefly marine; very rare in fresh- and brackish water. Distribution: tropical and temperate Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Dorsal fin usually having 10-13 spines; soft rays 10-15. Three spines in anal fin; soft rays 8-14. Maxilla hidden by a sheath when mouth is closed. Branchiostegal rays 6. Vertebrae 24 (10 + 14). To about 1.2 m maximum length. Carnivores of hard-shelled benthic invertebrates. Many species have been found to be hermaphroditic; some have male and female gonads simultaneously; others change sex as they get larger. Premier food and game fishes. Many species around southern Africa. A few species have been implicated in cases of ciguatera (Ref. 4537).

Etymology:

Greek, sparoides = a fish with golden head. 1668 ( Ref. 45335).

Division:

Marine

Reproductive guild:

nonguarders

Typical activity level:

normal

Main Ref.:

Nelson, J.S..1994

Coordinator:

Show species | Nominal species list for Sparidae | Identification keys | CAS specimen photos | References

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