Sillaginidae

Smelt-whitings
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Sillaginidae
Genera
Sillaginodes Sillaginopsis Sillago See text for species.

Sillaginidae is a family of bottom-dwelling marine fishes in the suborder Percoidea of the order Perciformes. The type species is Sillago acuta, later discovered to be a previously-described species Sillago sihama.

They are medium-sized fishes, growing around 15 cm to 45 cm long. The largest is Sillaginodes punctatus, with a maximum known length of 72 cm. As with most members of the order Perciformes, they have two true dorsal fins; the anterior one supported by spines while the rear one is held up by thin rays. Sillaginids are well-adapted to their benthic lifestyle, having slightly dorso-ventrally depressed heads with the eyes located on the dorsal surface. Ctenoid scales cover their silvery bodies.

Sillaginids are native to the Indo-west Pacific region, stretching across the Indian and west-Pacific Oceans. Starting in 1977, they have been found in the Mediterranean as an invasive species, passing from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal. [1]

They are commonly found schooling in inshore, coastal waters such as bays and estuaries. Schools sometimes enter brackish water near river mouths for short periods of time. Sillaginids are known to feed on benthic organisms such as crustaceans and polychaete worms.

Many of the mid-large species in the family are considered commercially-important and there is an active commercial fishing industry for them, especially in Japan. [2] In the Philippines, they are commonly caught and sold in markets as food fish where they are called "Asuhos". Several members of the family are also viable target species for sport fishing enthusiasts. Hook-and-line rod fishing using fresh or live bait is one of the most common methods that they are caught with. [3]

The name of the family, "Sillaginidae" is derived from the Greek term "syllego", which means "to meet".[4]

Species

The family Sillaginidae has 31 species in 3 genera. [5]

• Genus Sillaginodes
  • Sillaginodes punctatus Cuvier, 1829.
• Genus Sillaginopsis
  • Sillaginopsis panijus Hamilton, 1822.
• Genus Sillago Cuvier, 1816. - Type genus.
  • Sillago aeolus
  • Sillago analis
  • Sillago arabica
  • Sillago argentifasciata
  • Sillago asiatica
  • Sillago attenuata
  • Sillago bassensis
  • Sillago boutani
  • Sillago burrus
  • Sillago chondropus Bleeker, 1849.
  • Sillago ciliata Cuvier, 1829.
  • Sillago flindersi
  • Sillago indica
  • Sillago ingenuua
  • Sillago intermedius
  • Sillago japonica
  • Sillago lutea
  • Sillago macrolepis
  • Sillago maculata
  • Sillago megacephalus
  • Sillago microps
  • Sillago nierstraszi
  • Sillago parvisquamis
  • Sillago robusta
  • Sillago schomburgkii
  • Sillago sihama Forsskal, 1775. - Type species.
  • Sillago soringa
  • Sillago vincenti
  • Sillago vittata

References

• Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Sillaginidae". FishBase. January 2007 version.