Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Genus: Polynemidae (Threadfins)
Scientific Name: Polydactylus sexfilis
English Name: Sixfinger threadfin
Creole Name: Mile barb
French Name: Barbure à six doigts
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (NE)
Description:
Dorsal spines: 3; Dorsal rays: 25-27; Anal rays: 24-25.
Greyish to greenish brown dorsally, with small pale spots. Whitish ventrally with yellow spots that can coalesce to form a reticulum particularly posteriorly. 3 large
oval white spots along the back and a small one dorsally on caudal peduncle; a broad white streak often on side of body posterior to upper end of gill opening. White
blotches and mid-lateral stripe can disappear with growth. An oblique groove before the eye; large bony scales behind gill opening. Caudal peduncle depressed, slender
and tapering. Yellow bands on dorsal and anal fins. Caudal fin, yellow with white bars and stripes pattern and diffuse black margin, double emarginate, lobes longer
with growth.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 60cm TL
Habitat and Ecology:
Reef associated. Inhabits mud and silt sand bottoms (depth 7-350m), usually 7-100m depth on sand, sponge, and weed bottoms. Feeds on benthic animals, including crabs,
molluscs and sea urchins. Juveniles in sheltered coastal bays and estuaries.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in both the fish trap and hand line fisheries and is, along with Sufflamen fraenatum,
the most commonly caught triggerfish in the artisanal fishery.
Notes:
Abalistes stellaris is a synonym for this species.
References:
Bray, D.J. (2018). Abalistes stellatus in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/759 (30/10/18).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2018). FishBase https://www.fishbase.de/summary/abalistes-stellatus (30/10/18)
Matsuura, K. (2015). Taxonomy and systematics of tetraodontiform fishes: a review focusing primarily on progress in the period from 1980 to 2014. Ichthyol Res (2015)
62:72–113 DOI 10.1007/s10228-014-0444-5
Matsuura, K. & Motomura, H. (2015). Abalistes stellatus. The IUCN Red List 2015: e.T193587A56996805. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/193587/56996805 (18/06/22). .
Matsuura K, Yoshino T (2004). A new triggerfish of the genus Abalistes (Tetraodontiformes: Balistidae) from the western Pacific. Rec Aust Mus 56:189-194
Smith, M & Heemstra, P Eds. (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. & Mason-Parker, C. (2019). Abalistes stellatus, Starry triggerfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/abalistes-stellatus-anonymous-1798/ (updated 18/06/22).
Description:
Dorsal spines: 9; Dorsal rays: 13; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 11.
Moderately full-bodied, laterally compressed medium-sized species. Blunt conical snout, projecting beyond the large mouth. Maxilla reaching well behind eye to level of posterior margin of adipose eyelid. Lip on lower jaw well developed. Posterior margin of preopercle serrated. 6 pectoral filaments: first shortest not reaching to level of pelvic-fin origin, second to fifth pectoral filaments extending beyond level of pelvic-fin origin; sixth pectoral filament longest. Pectoral fin tip not reaching to level of posterior tip of pelvic fin. Caudal fin deeply forked, lobes not filamentous; upper lobe longer than lower.
Colour. Upper sides of head and trunk tinged silvery brown, becoming more silver on lower sides; occasionally with several faint dark stripes along longitudinal scale rows above and below lateral line. Dorsal fins light grey with dusky distal portions. Second dorsal higher than first. Pectoral fin dark grey, filaments white. Anterior part of pelvic fin greyish black, remainder of fin white. Posterior ray of anal fin white, remainder of fin grey. Caudal fin greyish-black.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 61cm TL.
Habitat and Ecology:
Occurs along shallow, sandy and rocky coastal beaches, in lagoons and near reef areas in the vicinity of oceanic islands, frequently in zones of turbulence (depth 1-50m, usually 20-50m). Feeds mainly on crustaceans and teleosts. Schooling species. Matures first as males at between 20 and 25 cm fork length, subsequently transforming into functional females at between 30 and 40 cm fork length following a hermaphroditic stage.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in net fisheries, but is an uncommon component of the catch.
Notes:
References:
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2019. FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/6416 (07/08/19).
Motomura, H. (2004). Threadfins of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of polynemid species known to date. Family Polynemidae. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 3. Rome, FAO. 2004. 117 p., 151 figs, 6 pls. ISBN 92-5-105128-3
Citation:
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