Pomfret
| Pomfret | |
|---|---|
| |
| Atlantic pomfret, Brama brama | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scombriformes |
| Suborder: | Scombroidei |
| Family: | Bramidae Lowe, 1836 |
| Genera[1] | |
|
Brama | |
Pomfrets are perciform fish belonging to the family Bramidae. The family currently includes 20 species across 7 genera.[1] Several species are important food sources for humans, especially Brama brama in the South Asia. The earlier form of the pomfret's name was "pamflet", a word which probably ultimately comes from Portuguese pampo, referring to various fish such as the blue butterfish (Stromateus fiatola). The fish meat is white in color.
Distribution
They are found globally in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, as well as numerous seas including the Norwegian, Mediterranean, and Sea of Japan.[2] Nearly all species can be found in the high seas. However, fishes in the genera Pterycombus and Pteraclis tend to be found off continental shelves. Further, fishes in the genus Eumegistus are hypothesized to be largely benthic and found to occupy deep water shelves.[2]
Given that these fishes are widely distributed, they have acquired numerous common names that unsurprisingly depend on locality.[2] From Mead, 1972[2]:
- North America and England: Ray's bream/Ray's sea bream
- Bermuda: Pomfret (Goode, 1884)
- Denmark and Norway: Havbrasen
- Sweden: Hafsbraxen
- Germany: Brachsenmakrele
- Netherlands: Braam
- France: Castagnole
- Italy: Castagnola
- Spain: Castanola or Joputa
- Portugal: Chaputa or Freira
- Chile: Hacha or Hachita
- New Zealand and Australia: Ray's bream
- India: Paplet
- Indonesia: Bawal (although Bawal may also refer to pacus)
Some species of pomfrets are also known as monchong, specifically in Hawaiian cuisine.[3]
See also
- Several species of butterfishes in the genus Pampus are also known as "pomfrets".
- List of fish families
References
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Bramidae". FishBase. February 2013 version.
- ^ a b c d G. W. Mead (1972). "Bramidae". Dana Report. 81: 1–166.
- ^ "Sickle Pomfret (Monchong)". www.hawaii-seafood.org. Retrieved 10 April 2016.