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EPHIP
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FISHING AREA 51
(W. Indian Ocean)
EPHIPPIDAE
Spadefishes
(some authors place in this family the Drepanidae and Platacidae)
Body very deep to almost orbicular, strongly compressed. Head short, its profile either steep or fairly
convex; most of head naked or densely covered with irregular scales, but no scales on preopercular flange or in the
preorbital region between mouth and eye; gill membranes broadly attached to isthmus; mouth horizontal, small to
minute, slightly protrusible only in Tripterodon orbis; end of maxilla concealed; teeth either setiform, numerous,
disposed in bands, or large, incisiform, tricuspid, set in 3 or 4 series in each jaw. Dorsal fin with 9 spines (young
said to have a procumbent point before first dorsal spine); interspinous membranes deeply incised, occasionally
filamentous; spinous part of dorsal fin separated from the soft part by a deep notch; pectoral fins rounded, small;
pelvic fins thoracic, pointed, with an axillary process; anal fin with 3 spines; caudal fin distally more or less
sigmoid - shaped, with an obtuse median angular process. Lateral line angularly arched. Scales moderate to
small.
Colour: silvery grey to greenish; body with 4 to 10 vertical bands fading with age.
9 spines
3 spines
-2-
FAO Sheets EPHIPPIDAE Fishing Area 51
Spadefishes are inhabitants of inshore tropical reefs in depths to about 30 m. Most species are found in the
Indo-West Pacific. They frequent rocky or reef areas as well as wrecks and pilings, sometimes forming schools of
up to 500 or more individuals. They feed on a variety of invertebrates, both benthic and planktonic. Caught mainly
with nets and trawl gear, and marketed fresh. The flesh is of good quality.
SIMILAR FAMILIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Drepanidae: pectoral fins long and falcate; mouth
distinctly protrusible, forming a downward-pointing tube;
also, dorsal fin spines shorter.
Platacide: spines in dorsal fin increasing in length
posteriorly and not separated from soft part of fin by a
notch.
Scatophagidae: 4 anal fin spines; head profile
concave.
mouth strongly
protusible
Drepanidae
4 spines
Scatophagidae
Platacidae
-3-
FAO Sheets EPHIPPIDAE Fishing Area 51
KEY TO SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
1a. Shape orbicular, with a steep upper profile, teeth setiform, in bands; eye diameter not
shorter than distance from mouth to eye margin; top of head densely scaled; not more
than 4 vertical dusky bars on body, none through eye (Fig.1)................................................ Ephippus orbis
1b. Shape more oblong, with a rather convex profile; teeth large, tricuspid, in 4 upper and
3 lower series; eye diameter about half of distance from mouth to eye margin; top of
head naked; 9 or 10 dusky vertical bars, the first through eye (Fig.2) ...............………...... Tripterodon orbis
Ephippus orbis Fig.1 Tripterodon orbis Fig.2
LIST OF SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Code numbers are given for those species for which Identification Sheets are included
Ephippus orbis (Bloch, 1787) EPHIP Ephip 1
Tripterodon orbis (Playfair, 1866) EPHIP Trip 1
Prepared by A. Maugé, Ichtyologie Générale et Appliquée, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 43 rue Cuvier,
75231 Paris, Cedex 05, France. Main illustrations of Ephippus orbis and Tripterodon orbis provided by author
Revised by P.C. Heemstra, J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Grahamstown, South Africa
EPHIP Ephip 1
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: EPHIPPIDAE FISHING AREA 51
(W. Indian Ocean)
Ephippus orbis (Bloch, 1787)
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE : Chaetodon orbis Bloch, 1787
VERNACULAR NAMES:
FAO: En - Spadefish
Fr - Disque
Sp - Paguala
NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body deep, nearly circular, strongly compressed, not angular at dorsal and anal fin origin. Eye diameter not
shorter than distance from mouth to eye margin; mouth small, terminal, not protrusible; teeth in bands, setiform,
none on palate; top of head densely scaled; opercle covered with scales almost to its ventral edge. First dorsal
fin with 1 forward-pointing spine (visible only in young specimens), 9 normal spines, and 19 or 20 soft rays, the 4 th
dorsal spine lonqest; pectoral fins short and rounded; anal fin with 3 spines and 15 or 16 soft rays. Scales small,
finely ciliated, extending onto soft parts of vertical fins.
Colour: 4 or 5 vertical black bars on body from dorsal fins almost to belly; margins of soft dorsal, pelvic,
anal and caudal fins dusky black. Young individuals are reported to have a dark bar through eye and another one
on nape.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Tripterodon orbis: shape more oblong; teeth large,
tricuspid; eye diameter about half of distance from
mouth to eye; top of head naked, 9 or 10 dusky vertical
bars, the first through eye.
Species of Drepanidae: pectoral fins long, falcate;
mouth protrusible, forming a downward-directed tube;
also, dorsal fin spines shorter.
Species of Platacidae: spines of dorsal fin increas-
ing in length posteriorly; no notch between spinous and
soft parts of dorsal fin.
Species of Scatophagidae: 4 anal spines; also, head
profile concave above snout.
SIZE:
Maximum: 25 cm; common to 15 cm. Tripterodon orbis
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
Within the area, known from the coasts of Pakistan,
India and Sri Lanka. Eastward extending to Malaysia,
Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia and Taiwan Island.
Found in shallow water in depths of 10 to 30 m.
Feeds on bottom living invertebrates and fishes.
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:
Throughout its range.
CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:
Separate statistics are not reported for this species.
Caught mainly with handlines and traps.
Marketed fresh.
EPHIP Trip 1
1983
FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS
FAMILY: EPHIPPIDAE FISHING AREA 51
(W. Indian Ocean)
Tripterodon orbis Playfair, 1866
OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE: None
VERNACULAR NAMES:
FAO : En - African spadefish
Fr - Disque africain
Sp - Paguala africana
NATIONAL:
DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:
Body deep, somewhat oblong, front profile parabolic. Mouth small, terminal, with thick lips; large movable
tricuspid teeth, in several rows in both jaws; roof of mouth toothless; top of head and preopercular flange without
scales; opercle covered with scales almost to its ventral edge. First dorsal fin with 9 spines and 19 to 21 soft
rays, the spines rather feeble, broad, elongate, 3rd spine longest; pectoral fins short and rounded; pelvic fins
present; anal fin with 3 spines and 15 to 17 soft rays. Scales small, finely ciliated, extending onto soft parts of
vertical fins.
Colour: silvery grey, with 9 or 10 somewhat indistinct darker crossbars, fading with age, the first through
eye.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Ephippus orbis: shape orbicular; teeth setiform, in
bands; eye diameter not shorter than distance from
mouth to eye; top of head densely scaled; not more than
4 vertical dusky bars on body (except in juveniles).
Species of Drepanidae: pectoral fins long, falcate;
mouth protrusible, forming a downward-pointing tube;
also, dorsal fin spines shorter.
Species of Platacidae: spines of dorsal fin increas-
ing in size posteriorly and not separated from soft part of
fin by a notch.
Species of Scatophagidae: 4 anal spines; snout
profile concave.
Ephippus orbis
SIZE:
Maximum: 75 cm; common to 30 cm.
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:
East coast of Africa from Natal northward to Mom-
basa and Zanzibar.
Found in shallow water about reefs.
Feeds by nibbling at organisms on rocks and coral.
PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:
Throughout its range, but nowhere abundant.
CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:
Separate statistics are not reported for this species.
Caught mainly with handlines and traps.
Marketed fresh.
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