Nemipterus furcosus (Valenciennes, 1830)
Fork-tailed threadfin bream
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Nemipteridae (Threadfin breams, Whiptail breams)
Max. size:  24 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 8 - 110 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Indian Ocean: Maldives (Ref. 30829), Gulf of Mannar, Sri Lanka, Andaman Sea, Strait of Malacca and northwestern Australia. Western Pacific: southern Japan to northeastern Australia. Most authors have incorrectly applied the name Nemipterus peronii to this species.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7. Suborbital spine absent. Preopercle with 3 transverse scale rows. Pectoral fins moderately long, reaching to or just short of level of anus. Pelvic fins moderately long, reaching to or just short of level anus. A line drawn up from posterior edge of suborbital reaching the dorsal profile at about the origin of dorsal fin. Females predominate at small sizes while males dominate the larger size classes. Maybe a sequential hermaphrodite. Axillary scale present. Color: Upper body iridescent pink, silvery white below. Lower margin of caudal fin white.
Biology:  Inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms; also in sheltered estuaries (Ref. 48635). Feeds mainly on crustaceans and small fishes. Principal catch in the Taiwanese pair-trawl fishery off the coast of northwestern Australia. Good food fish (Ref. 171).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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