Scyris indica Rüppell, 1830
Indian threadfish
Scyris indica
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Carangidae (Jacks and pompanos), subfamily: Caranginae
Max. size:  165 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 25 kg
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 20 - 100 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to French Polynesia (Ref. 4795), north to southern Japan, south to the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819) and Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 7-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 18-20; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 15-20; Vertebrae: 24-24. Description: Mainly silvery with dusky green tinge dorsally on body and head (Ref. 90102). Juveniles with dark bars on body; with 5 or 6 dull blue stripes running from the back to mid-flank (Ref. 4795. Ref. 90102). Body is superficially naked; scales minute and embedded, scutes 6-11. Body very deep in juvenile becoming more elongate with growth (Ref. 90102). Profile of head and nape somewhat angular. Anal fins extremely long and filamentous in young. Supraoccipital and distal ends of predorsal bones hyperossified and enlarged distally in specimens larger than 25 cm fork length. Pectoral fins falcate, longer than head; pelvic fins elongate in young. Soft dorsal and anal fins almost equal and the anterior rays prolonged into long filaments giving the fish with disheveled appearance (Ref. 4795; in juveniles according to Ref. 90102). Spines of first dorsal fin embedded and not apparent at fork length greater than about 17 cm; first two anal spines embedded with growth; villiform teeth disappearing with growth (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Adults found over coral reefs in coastal waters below 60 m (Ref. 9710, 58534). Form schools. Juveniles solitary, found in surface waters and in estuaries; may mimic jellyfish. Feed on fishes, squids, and crustaceans (Ref. 5213).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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