Photo. (c) 2020 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2020 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2020 John Nevill.
Scientific Name: Uraspis uraspis
English Name: Whitemouth jack
Creole Name: Karang sousouri
French Name: Carangue paia
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
Description:
Dorsal Spines 9 (8+1), Dorsal rays 25-30; Anal spines 3 (2 imbedded +1), Anal rays: 17-22.
Body, full, ovate and laterally compressed. Anteriodorsal profile strongly convex. Ventral profile slightly convex and then nearly straight to origin of the anal fin. Snout
broadly rounded. Upper jaw extends to below anterior margin of eye to middle of eye. Lower jaw projects in adults. Teeth in both jaws small, pointed and usually recurved,
in a narrow band, an irregular row, or a single row, becoming uniserial with increasing age. Pelvic fins very long in young but becoming shorter with age. Curved part of
lateral line with 61 to 82 scales and straight part of lateral line with 24 to 39 scutes. Breast naked ventrally to origin of pelvic fins. Laterally naked area of breast
extends diagonally to naked base of pectoral fins.
Colour. Tongue, roof and floor of mouth white or cream-coloured, the rest blue-black. Body and head dusky to black dorsally, shading to dusky or pale silvery grey ventrally.
Juveniles and occasionally adults with 6 dusky or blue-black bars, which are about twice the width of pale interspaces and much more distinct on ventral half of body below
the level of lateral line. Second dorsal fin pale hyaline proximally with distal areas dusky posteriorly. Anal fin yellow-white hyaline with distal areas dusky, especially
posteriorly.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 28cm FL.
Habitat and Ecology:
Occurs in small demersal schools over the continental shelf (depth 20-130m). Feed on epibenthic crustaceans and cephalopods.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the handline fishery, it is not a numerous or particularly common component of the catch.
Notes:
New record for Seychelles. John Nevill (27/09/16).
References:
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.) (2020). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.in/summary/Uraspis-uraspis.html (22/05/20).
Smith-Vaniz, W.F. & Williams, I. (2016). Uraspis uraspis (errata version 2017). The IUCN Red List 2016: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T46081534A46664519.en. (22/05/20).
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. (2020). Uraspis uraspis, Whitemouth jack. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/uraspis-uraspis-gunther-1860/ (edited 28/06/22).