Striped Threadfin

Striped Threadfin

Polydactylus plebeius
Striped Threadfin

Family, Genus, Class & Etymology

Family    Polynemidae
Description    Threadfins
Environment    Fresh, Brackish & Marine
Etymology    Greek, polys = a lot of + Greek, nema, -atos = filament
Genus    8
No. of Species    43
Order    Perciformes
Class    Actinopterygii
Reproductive Guild    Nonguarders
Distribution    Chiefly marine and brackish. Some riverine. Distribution: all tropical and subtropical seas. Mouth inferior. Pectoral fin with 2 sections. Upper section of pectoral fin with the rays attached; the lower section having 3-7 (except in Polistonemus with 14 or 15) long free rays. Spinous and soft dorsal fins far apart. Pelvics subabdominal. One spine in pelvic fin; soft rays 5. Deeply forked caudal fin. Vertebrae 24 or 25. Reaches 1.8 m maximum length, reported for Eleutheronema tetradactylum. Feed on benthic invertebrates of sandy to muddy bottoms. Few species near reefs. Foodfishes. Assumed to be pelagic spawners (RF).