Black Pomfret, Parastromateus niger
Black Batfish, Blue Skate, Butterfish, Halibut, Slade, Turbot
Click to enlarge image
© Kwang-Tsao Shao
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Parastromateus
- Species
- niger
- Family
- Carangidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 55 cm
Introduction
Juvenile and adult Black Pomfret look quite different. The head, body and caudal fin of juveniles are strongly banded. Adults are not banded but are silvery-grey to bluish-brown all over.
A 6 cm long juvenile Black Pomfret and jellyfish at a depth of less than 1 m (water depth 29 m), 25 km west-north-west of Dubai, Arabian/Persian Gulf, 28 April 2012.
Image: Keith Wilson© Keith Wilson
Identification
Juveniles have well developed pelvic fins which are lacking in adults.
Habitat
Juveniles may be associated with jellyfishes.
Distribution
The species occurs in tropical waters of the Indo-west Pacific region. In Australia, it is known from tropical waters of Western Australia, the Northern Territory and northern Queensland.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
References
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
