Nemipterus randalli Russell, 1986
Randall's threadfin bream
Nemipterus randalli
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Nemipteridae (Threadfin breams, Whiptail breams)
Max. size:  27 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 330.0 g; max. reported age: 3 years
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 20 - 450 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: including the east and west coast of India, Pakistan, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, east African coast, Seychelles and Madagascar, east to Myanmar. A Lessepsian migrant (Ref. 84163). This species has been previously misidentified as Nemipterus mesoprion.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-7. Suborbital spine absent. Preopercle with 3 transverse scale rows. Pectoral and pelvic fins very long, reaching to or just beyond level of origin of anal fin. A line drawn up from posterior edge of suborbital reaching the dorsal profile at about 3 to 7 scale rows before origin of dorsal fin. Upper lobe of caudal fin produced into a long trailing light red filament. Axillary scale present. Color: Body silvery pink. Peritoneum salmon-pink.
Biology:  Benthic on sand or mud bottoms (Ref. 30573). No major fishery exists, but a large population is believed to occur in the Persian Gulf. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 127989.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Five specimens caught and reported off the Syrian coast, confirming eastern range extension of the species in the Mediterranean and suggesting establishment of the species (Ref. 96855).


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