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Perciformes: Percoidei: Bramidae

1469

BRAMIDAE
Pomfrets
by B.A. Thompson, Louisiana State University, USA (modified from Haedrich 1977)

iagnostic characters: Medium- to large-sized fishes attaining nearly 1 m total length; body deep and sometimes very compressed; head fairly deep, eyes large and located on side of head; mouth large with heavy jaws; maxilla broad and covered with scales; a single long-based dorsal fin, longer or equal in length to anal fin that is very similar to dorsal fin; both dorsal and anal fin with several spines in anterior part of fin, but not easily distinguished from rays; large caudal fin is often deeply forked; pectoral fins long and wing-like; both pectoral and pelvic fins with scaled axillary processes; pelvic fins often short, always with 1 spine and 5 rays; lateral line can be poorly formed or absent in some adults; scales large, often keeled or modified with spinous projections; scales cover body and head except for certain species with naked patches at snout and near eyes. Colour: most species are black, sometimes with flecks of silver.

single long-based dorsal fin

scales large, often keeled, or with spinous projections

maxilla broad and covered with scales

anal fin similar in size and shape to dorsal fin

Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Epi- and mesopelagic found in temperate and warm-temperate oceans, except for Eumegistus which is more benthic. Predators on small fishes and macroinvertebrates such as squid. They appear to be nearly year-round batch spawners as a family. Most species undergo a remarkable transformation in fin and body shape as they grow. Several genera (e.g. Taractes, Taractichthys) are taken by longline and vertical line, but no directed fishery in Area 31 even though they are excellent foodfish. Remarks: Thompson and Russell (1996) listed 22 species in 7 genera.
no lateral line

Similar families occurring in the area Diretmidae: size small (usually less than 25 cm), abdomen keeled, with a row of scutes in front of anal fin; lateral line absent; pelvic fins with 1 spine and 6 soft rays (5 soft rays in Bramidae).

row of scutes in front of anal fin

Diretmidae

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Bony Fishes

Lampridae: somewhat similar in shape, but brightly coloured, especially fins and jaws (bright scarlet); also, mouth smaller and pelvic fins about as large as pectoral fins, the latter with a horizontal base. Stromateidae: also somewhat similar in shape, but has a small mouth, lacks pelvic fins and has very thin, small scales which are easily shed.
brightly coloured

small mouth no pelvic fins

pectoral fin with horizontal base

Lampridae

Stromateidae

Key to the genera of Bramidae occurring in the area 1a. Dorsal and anal fins broadly expanded, no scales along rays of these fins; median fins can be depressed into sheathed groove formed by modified scales (Fig. 1) . . . . . . . . 1b. Dorsal and anal fins not broadly expanded, scales along at least part of the length of the rays; no modified sheath at base of median fins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
dorsal and anal fins broadly expanded modified sheath at dorsal-fin base extends forward onto snout modified sheath not extending onto snout

. . . .2 . . . .3

a) Pteraclis

b) Pterycombus

Fig. 1

Fig. 2 lateral view of head

2a. Anterior dorsal- and anal-fin rays thickened; modified sheath at dorsal-fin base extends forward onto snout (Fig. 2a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pteraclis 2b. Anterior dorsal- and anal-fin rays all similar, no distinct thickening; modified sheath not extended forward beyond dorsal-fin insertion (Fig. 2b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pterycombus 3a. Transverse precaudal grooves well developed (Fig. 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3b. Transverse precaudal grooves absent . .

. . . .4 . . . .5

caudal fin

precaudal groove

Fig. 3 dorsal view of caudal peduncle

Perciformes: Percoidei: Bramidae snout blunt

1471

4a. Lateral profile of body rounded; body deep, 48 to 58% standard length; snout blunt; pelvic fins short, 7 to 9% standard length (Fig. 4) . Taractichthys 4b. Body more elongate, body depth 36 to 45% standard length; snout pointed; pelvic fins longer, 13 to 19% standard length (Fig. 5, 6) . . . . Taractes

Fig. 4 Taractichthys longipinnis

snout pointed

Fig. 5 Taractes aspar

Fig. 6 Taractes rubescens

5a. Mandibles not touching along entire length (Fig. 7a); scales form keel along ventral midline of belly; posterior edge of caudal fin white . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eumegistus 5b. Mandibles generally touching along entire length so no exposed area of isthmus (Fig. 7b); scales do not form keel at midline of belly; posterior edge of caudal fin black (Fig. 8) . . . . . Brama
mandibles touch along entire length

isthmus exposed

a)

b)

Fig. 7 underside of head

Fig. 8 Brama dussumieri

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Bony Fishes

List of species occurring in the area Brama brama (Bonnaterre, 1788). To 70 cm TL. Widespread in N Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, above 30N and S. Brama caribbea Mead, 1972. To 27 cm TL. Widespread in W Atlantic. Brama dussumieri Cuvier, 1831. To 19 cm SL, 37 cm TL. Widespread in torpical and subtropical seas between 35N and 35S. Eumegistus brevorti (Poey, 1861). To 52 cm TL. Widespread in tropical Atlantic.

Pteraclis carolinus Valenciennes, 1833. To 29 cm TL. Tropical Atlantic. Pterycombus brama Fries, 1837. To 45 cm TL. Widespread in Atlantic Ocean. Taractes asper Lowe, 1843. To 50 cm TL. Widespread in temperate N and S Atlantic and Pacific Taractes rubescens (Jordan and Evermann, 1887). To 85 cm TL. Widespread in Atlantic and Pacific
Oceans. Oceans.

Taractichthys longipinnis (Lowe, 1843). To 92 cm TL. Widespread in Atlantic Ocean.

References
Haedrich, R.L. 1977. Bramidae. In FAO Species Identification Sheets, Western Central Atlantic (Fishing Area 31), Volume I, edited by W. Fischer. Rome, FAO (unpaginated). Haedrich, R.L. 1986. Bramidae. In Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, Vol. II, edited by P.J.P. Whitehead et al. Paris, UNESCO, pp. 847-853. Mead, G.W. 1972. Bramidae. Dana Rept., 81:1-166. Thompson, B.A. and S.J. Russell. 1996. Pomfrets (family Bramidae) of the Gulf of Mexico and nearby waters. Publ. Espec. Inst. Esp. Oceanogr., 21:185-198.

Perciformes: Percoidei: Caristiidae

1473

CARISTIIDAE
Manefishes iagnostic characters: Small to medium-sized fishes (to about 265 mm standard length). Body deep and compressed. Profile of head very steep and snout truncated. Mouth terminal, moderately oblique and moderately large; maxilla partially to completely covered by lachrymal bone when mouth closed. Nostrils paired and located in front of eye. Preopercular margin entire and opercular margin with 2 weak spines. Six branchiostegal rays. Dorsal fin sail-like, originates on head, and fits into groove on dorsum. Anal fin elongate and fits into wide thin skin flap. All elements of dorsal- and anal-fins rays with anterior elements unsegmented but bilaterally paired. Caudal fin truncate. Pectoral fin fan-shaped, with base on lower flank and very oblique. Pelvic fin very long, consists of 1 spine and 5 soft rays, with base anterior to pectoral-fin base. Pelvic fin enclosed in groove running along midline of belly to origin of anal fin when depressed. Caudal peduncle short. Body and side of head covered with small, deciduous scales. Lateral line is present (1 species) or absent (remaining species). Colour: light brown, often with dark bars and other markings.
by J.D. McEachran, Texas A & M University, USA

dorsal fin sail-like, originates on head

steep head profile

snout truncate

caudal fin truncate

pelvic fin fits in groove in belly

Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Worldwide in tropical to warm temperate oceanic waters. All species are epipelgic to bathypelagic (between 100 and 2 000 m, usually mesopelagic, 300 to 800 m) and are often associated with siphonophores. Development is oviparous and eggs are pelagic. Remarks: There are 4 known species in 2 genera, and perhaps several additional undescribed species. No recent synopsis of the family is available.

1474

Bony Fishes

Similar families occurring in the area Bramidae: caudal fin forked; body covered with thick adhesive scales. Diretmidae: dorsal fin not sail-like; caudal fin forked; small spinose scales.
forked caudal fin

forked caudal fin

Bramidae

Diretmidae

List of species occurring in the area Caristius cf. maderensis Maul, 1949. Maximum size and distribution of this questionable species unknown. References
Fujii, E. 1984. Caristiidae. In Fishes trawled off Surinam and French Guiana, edited by T. Uyeno, K. Matsuura, and E. Fujii. 1983. Tokyo, Japan Mar. Fish. Res. Research Center, 519 p. Heemstra, P.C. 1986. Family No. 208. Caristiidae, pp. 636- 637. In Smiths Sea Fishes, edited by M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra. 1986. New York Springer-Velag, 1047 p. Post, A. 1986. Caristiidae. In Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, edited by P.L.P. Whitehead, M.L. Bauchot, J. Nielsen, and E. Tortonese. 1986(2):511-1008. Post, A. 1990. Caristiidae, 765-766. In CLOFETA II Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic, edited by J.C. Quro, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post, and L. Saldanha. Junta Nacional de Investigao Cientfica e Tecnolgica, Lisbonne, Portugal, pp. 520-1079. Tolley, S.G., M.M. Leiby, and J.V. Gartner. 1990. First record of the family Caristiidae (Osteichthyes) from the Gulf of Mexico. Northeast Gulf Sci., 11:159-162.

Perciformes: Percoidei: Emmelichthyidae

1475

EMMELICHTHYIDAE
Rovers iagnostic characters: Moderate-sized fishes with oblong, slightly compressed body. Head covered with scales; mouth extremely protrusile; maxilla widely expanded posteriorly, covered with scales and mostly exposed when mouth is closed; supramaxilla long and slender, but mostly concealed under preorbital when mouth is closed; jaws toothless or with a few minute, conical teeth. Rear edge of opercle with 2 or 3 flat points; posteroventral edge of preopercle broadly rounded, projecting slightly posterior to upper (vertical) margin as a thin lamina; preopercle edge smooth, crenulate, or with weak serrae. Branchiostegal rays 7. Gill rakers long and numerous, 9 to 13 rakers on upper limb and 24 to 31 on lower limb. Dorsal fin continuous or notched to the base in front of soft-rayed portion, or divided into separate spinous and soft-rayed portions; dorsal fin with 11 to 13 spines (some posterior spines are not visible externally in Emmelichthys ruber); and 9 to12 rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 9 or 10 rays; anal and soft dorsal fins with a scaly sheath at the base that is best developed posteriorly, where it covers most of the posterior 2 or 3 rays. Caudal fin forked, heavily scaled at the base; principal caudal-fin rays 9+8, branched rays 8+7. Pectoral fins with 18 to 20 rays. Pelvic fins with 1 spine and 5 rays, a well-developed scaly axillary process of fused scales, and a midventral scaly process between the fins. Head and body covered with moderate, finely ctenoid scales; lateral line continuous, with 68 to 73 tubed scales. Vertebrae: 10 precaudal and 14 caudal; supraneural bones 3; subocular shelf well developed; posteroventral part of urohyal deeply forked. Colour: head and body reddish, darker dorsally, silvery laterally and ventrally; dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins pinkish white; caudal and pectoral fins reddish.
by P.C. Heemstra, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa

maxilla widely expanded, exposed when mouth closed

maxilla scaled

mouth highly protrusile

jaws toothless or with minute teeth

Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Adult rovers occur near the bottom at depths of 57 to 500 m in tropical and warm-temperate waters of all oceans; postlarvae and small lateral view of head juveniles (less than 7 cm standard length) are apparently epipelagic, at least during the night, when they have been collected in depths of 0 to100 m over deep water. Rovers inhabit continental shelves and upper slope regions and are also common at some oceanic islands and sea mounts. Little is known of their biology; rovers feed on zooplankton, especially colonial salps. Taken mainly as bycatch in trawls; the flesh is excellent. Remarks: The family comprises 3 genera and 15 species.

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Bony Fishes

Similar families occurring in the area Lutjanidae: dorsal fin single (but margin deeply incised in Etelis oculatus); maxilla mostly covered by preorbital bone when mouth is closed; upper jaw not very protrusile; teeth well developed, with canines in most species. Inermiidae: mouth greatly protrusile, but maxilla narrow, naked, and covered by preorbital when mouth is closed; spinous and soft dorsal fins well-separated (spinous fin with 10 spines) or dorsal fin continuous, with 15 spines and the margin deeply notched before soft-rayed portion; anal fin with 2 spines and 9 or 10 rays. Acropomatidae: dorsal-fin spines 7 to 10; upper jaw not or only slightly protrusile; teeth well developed; maxilla without scales in most species.
single, continuous dorsal fin

single dorsal fin

Lutjanidae
7 to 10 spines

upper jaw not or only slightly protrusible

Inermiidae

Acropomatidae

Key to the species of Emmelichthyidae occurring in the area 1a. Dorsal fin divided to the base between spinous and soft-rayed parts, but without a distinct gap between the 2 parts; length of spinous dorsal-fin base 24 to 26% standard length; head length 29 to 33% standard length; dorsal-fin spines 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . Erythrocles monodi 1b. Spinous dorsal fin separated from soft dorsal fin by a distinct gap with short, isolated, or buried spines; length of spinous dorsal-fin base 28 to 31% standard length; head length 25 to 27% standard length; dorsal-fin spines 12 or 13, with 7 to 9 spines connected by membrane, 3 to 5 penultimate spines reduced to buried nubbins, and last spine at origin of soft dorsal fin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emmelichthys ruber List of species occurring in the area is given when species accounts are included. The symbol Emmelichthys ruber (Trunov, 1976).

0 0 0 Erythrocles monodi Poll and Cadenat, 1954.

References
Heemstra, P.C. 1972. Erythrocles monodi (Perciformes: Emmelichthyidae) in the western Atlantic, with notes on two related species. Copeia, (4):875-878. Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall. 1977. A revision of the Emmelichthyidae (Pisces: Perciformes). Aust. J. Mar. Freshwater Res., 28(3):361-396.

Perciformes: Percoidei: Emmelichthyidae

1477

Erythrocles monodi Poll and Cadenat, 1954

Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: None / None. FAO names: En - Atlantic rubyfish (AFS: Crimson rover); Fr - Poisson rubis; Sp - Conoro.

EYO

Diagnostic characters: Body depth greater than head length, 3.6 to 4.1 times in standard length. Head covered with scales; upper jaw greatly protrusile; maxilla expanded posteriorly, scaly, and exposed when mouth is closed; supramaxilla elongate, slipping under preorbital bone when mouth is closed; jaws toothless or with a few minute, conical teeth. Preopercle edge smooth, crenulate, or with weak serrae, the posterioventral edge broadly rounded, projecting posterior to upper (vertical) margin as a thin lamina; rear edge of opercle with 2 or 3 flat points. Gill rakers 9 to 12 on upper limb and 27 to 29 on lower limb. Dorsal fin with 11 spines and 11 or 12 rays; fin margin notched to base in front of soft portion; anal fin with 3 spines and 9 or 10 rays. Anal and soft dorsal fins with scaly sheath at base that is best developed posteriorly, where it covers most of the posterior 2 or 3 rays. Caudal fin forked, heavily scaled at base; principal caudal rays 9+8, branched rays 8+7. Specimens larger than 30 cm standard length with a well-developed, fleshy midlateral keel along rear part of caudal peduncle and continuing onto base of caudal fin. Pectoral fin with 18 to 20 rays; pelvic fins with a well-developed scaly axillary process of fused scales, and a midventral scaly process between fins. Lateral line with 68 to 72 tubed scales. Colour: head and body reddish, darker dorsally, silvery laterally and ventrally; dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins pinkish white; caudal and pectoral fins reddish. Size: Maximum total length 55 cm. Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Found near the bottom in depths of 100 to 300 m. Nothing has been published on the biology of this species. Probably feeds on macrozooplankton and small fishes. Taken mainly as bycatch in trawl fisheries. Not abundant, but the flesh is excellent. Distribution: South Carolina, northern Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, Colombia, Venezuela, St Lucia in Windward Islands; also known in the eastern Atlantic from Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, the Gulf of Guinea, Congo, and Angola, and one recent record from the Bay of Biscay on the Atlantic coast of France.

1478

Bony Fishes

Emmelichthys ruber (Trunov, 1976)

En - Island rover. Maximum size to 23 cm. Adults and large juveniles (more than 10 cm standard length) occur near the bottom in depths of 180 to 200 m; postlarvae and juveniles less than 7 cm standard length are apparently epipelagic. Feeds on zooplankton. Although the island rover is common at some localities, the small size of this species and the steeply-sloping rugged bottom habitat make it difficult to catch commercial quantities. Bermuda, eastern Gulf of Mexico, Jamaica, and St. Helena, but probably more widespread.

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