Argyrosomus inodorus
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| Argyrosomus inodorus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acanthuriformes |
| Family: | Sciaenidae |
| Genus: | Argyrosomus |
| Species: | A. inodorus |
| Binomial name | |
| Argyrosomus inodorus | |
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| native range | |
Argyrosomus inodorus, the mild meagre or silver kob, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers. The species is found off southern Africa where it is an important target species for hook and line fisheries.
Argyrosomus inodorus was first formally described in 1995 by Marc H. Griffiths and Phil Heemstra with its type locality given as False Bay in the Western Cape.[2] Previously this species had been thought to be conspecific with the Madagascar meagre (Argyrosomus hololepidotus), endemic to eastern Madagascan waters, as was the dusky kob (Argyrosomus coronus) which prefers warmer waters to the north of the distribution of that of the mild meagre.[3] This fish belongs to the family Sciaenidae in the order Acanthuriformes.[4] The specific name, inodorus, means "without scent" and is a reference to this species lack of a brassy aroma like that given off by A. japonicus in South African waters.[5]
Description
Argyrosomus inodorus has 11 spines in its dorsal fin with 10 in front of the incision which almost divides that fin and 1 behind it along with between 25 and 29 soft rays. The anal fin is supported by 2 spines and 7 soft rays. The standard length is 3.6 to 4.2 times the body's depth. The fold in the axillary of the pectoral fin is naked and the part of the lateral line near the head is moderately curved. Only the males have drumming muscles. The colour of the body is silvery darkening on the upper body to greenish-brown with a copper sheen on the sides and back, sometimes this is more noticeable on the head, and a white breast and belly. The dorsal fin and caudal fin are pale yellowish grey to greyish brown while the anal, pectoral and pelvic fins are whitish to brownish grey, but may sometimes be reddish, particularly the caudal fin.[6] This species has a maximum published total length of 145 cm (57 in), although 115 cm (45 in) is more typical, and a maximum published weight of 36.3 kg (80 lb).[7]
Distribution and habitat
Argyrosomus inodorus is found in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean and the southwestern Indian Ocean from Cape Fria in Namibia southwards to Cape Agulhas and east along the South African coast to the Great Kei River.[1] In South Africa this species is rare in estuaries and in the surf zone east of Cape Agulhas but is common in the surf zone in the cooler waters along the Atlantic coast of South Africa and Namibia. It is found at depths between 1 and 100 m (3 ft 3 in and 328 ft 1 in) but rarely below 10 m (33 ft) off Namibia due to an anoxic zone below that depth.[7]