Pentapodus nagasakiensis (Tanaka, 1915)
Japanese whiptail
Pentapodus nagasakiensis
photo by Steene, R.

Family:  Nemipteridae (Threadfin breams, Whiptail breams)
Max. size:  20 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 108.0 g
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 20 - 100 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: southern Japan, South China Sea, Indonesia (Lombok) and northwestern Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7. Head scales reaching forward to between level of anterior margin of eyes and posterior nostrils. Suborbital naked. Lower limb of preopercle naked. Pelvic fins moderately long, reaching to or almost to level of anus. Lobes of caudal fin pointed, more or less equal in length. Axillary scale present. Color: Upper half of body yellowish, lower half whitish.
Biology:  Sporadic distribution (Ref. 48635), but mostly in deeper offshore waters. Sometimes enters shallow estuaries or harbors (Ref. 48635). Solitary or in small groups (Ref. 90102). Feeds on small shrimps. Rarely caught.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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