Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Genus: Carangidae (Jacks & Pompanos), Scomberoidinae
Scientific Name: Scomberoides lysan
English Name: Doublespotted queenfish
Creole Name: Sab
French Name: Sauteur sabre
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
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: 7-8; Dorsal rays: 19-21; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 17-19.
Body elongate, oblong to elliptical and strongly laterally compressed. Dorsal and ventral profiles near equally curved. Snout pointed with dorsal profile of head and nape
slightly concave. Upper jaw extends to posterior margin of eye in adults. Lower jaw with 2 rows of teeth, adults with teeth in inner row equal in size to those in outer
row. Posterior soft dorsal and anal fin rays consisting of semidetached finlets. Pelvic fins subequal to pectoral fins. Lateral line slightly irregular, moderately convex
above pectoral fin and straight posteriorly.
Colour. Grey-green dorsally shading to silvery white ventrally. Adults with a double series of 6 to 8 dusky blotches above and below lateral line. Dark patch on outer rays
of second dorsal fin and often a round dark blotch on anal fin rays. In Seychelles often observed to have a yellowish ventral colouring including to the pelvic fins.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 110cm TL. Commonly to 60cm TL.
Habitat and Ecology:
A coastal species that inhabits a variety of areas including shallow lagoons, seaward reefs and neritic waters over various substrates (depth 0-100m). Adults in clear
lagoon and seaward reefs, juveniles in shallow inshore and brackish waters. Occurs singly or in small schools. Feeds mostly on small bony fishes and crustaceans.
Juveniles reported to use their specialised rasping teeth to feed on the scales and epidermal tissues of other fish.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line and various net fisheries. It is an occasional and not numerous component
of the catch.
Notes:
Spines of the first dorsal and anal fins are venomous and capable of inflicting painful stings.
References:
Bray, D.J. (2017). Scomberoides lysan in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4282 (02/06/19)
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/1951 (02/06/19).
Smith-Vaniz, W.F. & Williams, I. (2016). Scomberoides lysan (2017 errata version). The IUCN Red List 2016: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T20434766A46664119.en. (02/06/19).
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Scomberoides lysan, Doublespotted queenfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/scomberoides-lysan-forsskal-1775/ (edited 26/06/22).
There are no comments