Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Scientific Name: Kyphosus cinerascens
English Name: Blue sea chub
Creole Name: Pwason dai
French Name: Calicagère bleue
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
Description:
Dorsal spines: 11; Dorsal rays: 11-12; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 11-12.
Body ovate and compressed. Blunt snout with low hump above nostrils. Small terminal mouth, single row of incisor-like teeth on both jaws. Maxilla barely reaching posteriorly
to eye level. Preopercular edge with fine serrations. Soft portion of dorsal and anal fins broad and elevated, distinctly higher than longest spines. Pectoral fins short.
Broad caudal peduncle, forked caudal fin with broad lobes.
Colour. Silvery-grey with fine horizontal bands along flanks. Scales with darker edges. Median fins dusky, dark posterior margin to caudal fin.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 51cm TL. Commonly to 45cm TL.
Habitat and Ecology:
Aggregates over hard, algal coated bottoms of exposed, surf-swept outer reef flats, lagoon and seaward rocky reefs, often in caves (depth 1-45m). Schools in loose formations.
Juveniles are often associated with floating, pelagic seaweed material and can disperse across vast distances. Mainly herbivorous, feeding on seaweed and associated
invertebrates. Spawns in pairs and aggregations. Oviparous.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line fishery, but is a rare component of the catch.
Notes:
Internationally reported to be potentially toxic and hallucinogenic, but not known to be such in Seychelles.
References:
Bray, D.J. (2018). Kyphosus cinerascens in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/471 (20/06/19).
Carpenter, K.E. et al. (2015). Kyphosus cinerascens (errata version 2017). The IUCN Red List 2015: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T46086162A46664684.en. (19/06/19).
Fischer, W. & G. Bianchi (eds), (1984). FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean; (Fishing Area 51). Prepared and printed with the
support of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Rome, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, vols 1-6.
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5805 (19/06/19).
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Kyphosus cinerascens, Blue sea chub. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/kyphosus-cinerascens-forsskal-1775/ (edited 08/07/22).