Description:

Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal rays: 33-37; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 26-28. 

Large dorso-ventrally full-bodied, laterally flattend fish. Borad rounded head. Body covered with large hard scales, each with a spine. There are no areas without scales 
above nor behind the eye. Adults without a lateral line. Anterior lobes of dorsal and anal fins high, but changing in shape and height with growth. 
Caudal fin sickle-shaped.  

Colour. Silvery black with pale posterior edge to caudal fin. 
 

Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 60.0 cm TL. 

Benthopelagic; oceanodromous (depth 50 - 700 m). Often occurs along shelf edge.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is however listed as a Highly Migratory Species (Annex I) UNCLOS meaning the Covention 
calls for coopertaive management of this species to ensure its conservation and sustainable use.   
 

The (five) fresh specimens shown here were caught off Owen Bank (August 2023) by Aaron-lyle Manes, at depths between 450-550 m using an electric reel. 
Salted specimens are noted at the local market, on occasion, but these are sourced from the industrial tuna fleet and therefore were not necessarily caught 
within the Seychelles EEZ. The photos of fresh specimens, (c) 2023 A-L Manes, presented here therefore constitute a new record for Seychelles.  

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2023). FishBase. Taractichthys steindachneri, Sickle pomfret. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Taractichthys-steindachneri (16/10/23). 
Smith, M. & Heemstra, P. (Eds.) (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4.

Nevill, J.E.G., Manes, A-L. & Suleman, F. (2023). Taractichthys steindachneri, Sickle pomfret. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/taractichthys-steindachneri-doderlein-1883/