Porgies and Seabreams
Sparids are small to medium-sized demersal fishes, found from shallow coastal waters to relatively deeper waters with a few species also occur in brackish habitats. Most are carnivorous, feeding on benthic invertebrates inhabitants. Juveniles sometimes form schools, while the adults are mostly solitary in deeper waters.
There are 38 genera with more than 130 species worldwide. They are highly variable in shapes, colours and markings.
English Name: Yellowfin Seabream, Yellow-finned Black Porgy, Western Yellowfin Bream, Japanese Silver Bream
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 黄鳍棘鲷 (Huáng qí jí diāo), 黄鳍鲷 (Huáng qí diāo), 黄脚䲞 (Huáng jiǎo lì), 古古 (Gǔ gǔ)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Mengkuku, Kekapas, Kuku, Bandan, Belukong, Bengkongkong, Mengkuku Sirip Kuning
Local Hokkien: Ban Chee Hu
Main Identification Features: Pelvic, anal and lower caudal fins yellowish. A weak diffuse dark blotch at origin of lateral line, continue with dense blackish shading on upper part of posterior opercle.
Size: Maximum total length 45 cm, commonly to 30 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Coastal and estuarine waters, with preference to rocky areas, to depths of about 50 m. Feeds on invertebrates, mainly echinoderms, worms, crustaceans, and molluscs.
Remarks: Acanthopagrus latus was reported to be limited to the east Asia Shelf only. Possibly a complex of the species.