Northern whiting

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Northern whiting

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Spariformes
Family: Sillaginidae
Genus: Sillago
Species:
S. sihama
Binomial name
Sillago sihama
Fabricius, 1775
Range of the Northern whiting
Synonyms
  • Atherina sihama Fabricius, 1775
  • Platycephalus sihamus (Fabricius, 1775)
  • Sciaena malabarica Bloch & Schneider, 1801
  • Sillago acuta Cuvier, 1817
  • Sillago erythraea Cuvier, 1829
  • Sillago malabarica Bloch & Schneider, 1849

The northern whiting (Sillago sihama), also known as the silver whiting and sand smelt, is a

cast nets
and marketed fresh.

Taxonomy

The northern whiting is one of over 30 species in the genus

suborder of the Perciformes.[3] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the Sillaginidae in the order Spariformes.[4]

The northern whiting was first described by

junior synonyms and are discarded under the ICZN rules.[3]
Due to its wide distribution, the species has been applied a number of common names, with northern whiting, silver whiting, sand smelt and silver sillago the most common English names.[5]

Description

The northern whiting's similarity to all other species in the genus Sillago has led to many less abundant species being confused with it. The species is known to grow to a maximum size of 31 cm,[6] however reports dating back to 1850 in Bengal suggest the species attains 3 feet (91 cm), which would make it the largest species of sillaginid.[7] These reports were never etched into the literature on the species, possibly because of presumed confusion with the similar but unrelated and larger milkfish and bonefish that inhabit the area. The species has a slightly compressed, elongate body tapering toward the terminal mouth. The dorsal fin is in two parts, the first made of feeble spines and the second of soft rays headed by a single feeble spine, while the ventral profile is straight.[8]

The

vertebrae are also diagnostic, having 34 in total. The swim bladder is the most accurate diagnostic feature, having two posterior extensions and two anterior extensions. The two anterior extensions extend forward and diverge to end on each side of the basioccipital above the auditory capsule. Two lateral extensions also commence anteriorly, each of them sending a blind tubule anterolaterally and then extending along the abdominal wall. The lateral extensions are normally convoluted and have blind tubules arising along their length. The two posterior tapering extensions project into the caudal region, with one usually longer than the other.[3]

The colour of the body is variable, often being light tan, silvery yellow-brown, sandy brown, or honey coloured. The underside of the fish is usually paler, being brown to white in colour. A silver midlateral, longitudinal stripe is normally present. The dorsal fins are dusky on each end, with or without rows of dark brown spots on the second dorsal fin membranes. The caudal fin is dusky terminally, and there is no dark blotch at the base of the pectoral fin as in other sillaginids. All other fins are hyaline, but the anal fin occasionally has a whitish margin.[6]

Distribution and habitat

The northern whiting is the most geographically widespread of the Sillaginidae, but is still confined to the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. Its easternmost range is from South Africa north along the west coast of Africa and into the Red sea and Persian Gulf.

Mediterranean, passing through the Suez Canal from the Red Sea since 1977 as part of the Lessepsian migration, becoming widespread.[11] In fact, the species of smelt-whiting which has invaded the Mediterranean is S. suezensis.[12]

The northern whiting is primarily an inshore species, rarely seen in depth of more than 20 m. It commonly inhabits both high energy

tidal flats. The species commonly enters estuaries, and has even been recorded in freshwater, despite the fact it has no anatomical adaptations to cope with this change. The northern whiting does not migrate or move offshore at various times of the year like some co-occurring sillaginids.[13]

Biology

Like most members of the family, S. sihama can bury itself in the sand when danger approaches and commonly avoids seine-nets by employing this behaviour, giving them the common name 'sandborer' in some countries.

Diet

The principal items of diet are

amphipods also taken. Small fish are often taken and filamentous algae is consumed. Australian specimens frequently contain polychaete worms and small Crustacea. The species often has a similar, but slightly different diet compared to other coexisting sillaginids and other fishes,[14] with few cases of wide dietary overlap recorded. The juveniles and adults also show disparity in their diets, with juveniles taking zooplankton such as copepods, while adults take larger crustaceans and polychaetes.[16]

Reproduction

Northern whiting reach sexual maturity at a minimum 106 mm in males and 117 mm in females, although most individuals from both sexes mature once they reach 130 mm in length and one year of age.[17] Growth in the species is rapid, attaining a length of 13 to 14 cm at about 1 year, 16 to 20 cm at 2 years, 20 to 24 cm at 3 years and 24 to 28 cm by 4 years of age.[18]

egg is spherical, colourless and buoyant, 0.5 to 0.6 mm in diameter, and without a large oil globule.[21] Fecundity varied between 16 682 and 166 130.[6] The eggs and larval development of S. sihama has been extensively described separately by Bensam and Kato et al., with the distinguishing feature of the larvae being the pattern of melanophores distributed on the caudal fin base, having these in a vertical line.[13][22]

Relationship to humans

Considerable catches of northern whiting are made but generally not reflected in the fishery statistics of countries they are taken in. In Pakistan the main fishery takes place in June to July. The catches reported in this single country range from 102 t (1980) to 859 t (1982) with an average of 404 t.[6] The species has come under heavy threat in Chinese waters from overfishing and environmental pollution.[23]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T203423A115349449.en
    . Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2023). Species of Sillago in FishBase. June 2023 version.
  3. ^ a b c d McKay, R.J. (1985). "A Revision of the Fishes of the Family Sillaginidae". Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 22 (1): 1–73.
  4. OL 25909650M
    .
  5. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2007). "Sillago sihama" in FishBase. October 2007 version.
  6. ^
    ISBN 92-5-103123-1
    .
  7. ^ Cantor, Dr. T. (1850). "Catalogue of Malayan Fishes". Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. 18. Baptist Mission Press: 983. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
  8. ISBN 1-86333-067-4
    .
  9. ISBN 92-5-104587-9
    .
  10. doi:10.3354/meps310173
    .
  11. ^ Golani, Daniel (1998). "Impact of Red Sea Fish Migrants through the Suez Canal on the Aquatic Environment of the Eastern Mediterranean" (PDF). Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Bulletin. 103 (Transformations of Middle Eastern Natural Environments): 375–387. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-08-28. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
  12. doi:10.1080/00222933.2013.800609
    .
  13. ^
    S2CID 45198469
    .
  14. ^
    S2CID 20269750
    .
  15. ^ Mohammed, A.R.M; Mutlak, F.M.; Saleh, J.H. (2003). "Food habits of Sillago sihama (Froskal, 1775) in the Iraqi marine waters, northwest Persian Gulf / Iraq". Marina Mesopotamica. 18 (1): 35–42. 1815-2058.
  16. ^ Tongnunui, Prasert; Sano, Mitsuhiko; Kurokura, Hisashi (2005). "Feeding habits of two sillaginid fishes, Sillago sihama and S-aeolus, at Sikao Bay, Trang Province, Thailand". Mer. 43 (1–2): 9–17. 0503-1540.
  17. ^ a b Tongnunui, Prasert; Sano, Mitsuhiko; Kurokura, Hisashi (2006). "Reproductive biology of two sillaginid fishes, Sillago sihama and S. aeolus, in tropical coastal waters of Thailand". Mer. 44 (1): 1–16. Archived from the original on 2008-05-18. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  18. ^ Radhakrishnan, N. (1954). "Occurrence of growth rings on the otoliths of the Indian whiting, Sillago sihama (Forsskål)". Current Science. 23 (4): 196–197.
  19. ^ Chacko, P.I. (1950). "Marine plankton from waters around the Krusadai Islands". Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences. 31 (B): 162–174.
  20. ^ Jayasankar, P (1991). "Sillaginid fishes of Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar with an account on the maturation and spawning of Indian sand whiting, Sillago sihama (Forsskal)" (PDF). Indian Journal of Fisheries. 38 (1): 13–25. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  21. ^ Palekar, V.C.; Bal, D.V. (1961). "Studies on the maturation and spawning of the Indian whiting (Sillago sihama Forsskål) from Karwar waters". Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences. 54 (B): 76–93.
  22. ^ Bensam, P. (1990). "Eggs and early larvae of the sand whiting Silligo sihama (Forsskal)" (PDF). Indian Journal of Fisheries. 37 (3): 237–241. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  23. PMID 17147187
    . 1001-9332.

External links
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