Argyrops flavops Iwatsuki & Heemstra, 2018
Yellow-snout soldierbream

Family:  Sparidae (Porgies)
Max. size:  25.5 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 30 - 100 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Oman (Mutrah), Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea..
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 8-8; Vertebrae: 24-24. This species is distinguished from all its congeners by the following set of characters: body deep and compressed; D XII,10; the first 2 dorsal-fin spines are rudimentary (2 dorsal-fin spines on first dorsal pterygiophore); third or fourth (rarely fifth) dorsal-fin spine longest (1.0-1.4, mean 1.2, in 3DFS/4DFS, reduction of dorsal-fin spines with growth might be determined by different environments), third spine less than head length and not reaching beyond the origin of first soft dorsal-fin ray in specimens greater than 20.0 cm SL, but juveniles less than ca.10.0 cm SL with third to eightth dorsal-fin spines extremely elongated, these spines becoming abruptly shorter at 10.0-15.0 cm SL; anterior and posterior margins of upper cheek scales nearly parallel just below posterior edge of eye; orbit diameter clearly less than suborbital depth. Colouration: body uniform orangish pink with belly and chin silvery, head with snout mostly yellow or orange, sometimes yellow or orange on cheek; spinous dorsal-fin rays are yellowish or orangish pink, especially on membrane, other fins are somewhat yellowish pink or pale pink, similar to Pacific Dentex; upper jaw and around the eyes often yellowish orange (Ref. 124569).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 13 August 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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