Nemipterus bipunctatus (Valenciennes, 1830)
Delagoa threadfin bream
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Nemipteridae (Threadfin breams, Whiptail breams)
Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 18 - 100 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Indian Ocean: Red Sea, Persian Gulf, east Africa south to Delagoa Bay in Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Arabian Sea, Sri Lanka, Bay of Bengal, Andaman Sea, and Strait of Malacca. This species has generally been reported under the name Nemipteus delagoae or Nemipterus bleekeri.
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 fins moderately long, reaching to or just behind anus. Pelvic fins 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 about 3 to 5 scales before origin of dorsal fin. Scale rows on body below lateral line upward-curved anteriorly. Axillary scale present. Color: Upper body pinkish, silvery below. Snout with 2 indistinct stripes.
Biology:  Found on sand or mud bottoms (Ref. 30573). Feeds mainly on crustaceans, cephalopods (Loligo), small fishes and polychaetes.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 June 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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