Osteomugil cunnesius ( Valenciennes, 1836 )

Hasan, Ariba & Siddiqui, Pirzada Jamal Ahmed, 2020, Taxonomic study of the family Mugilidae from Pakistan coast (northern Arabian Sea), Zootaxa 4881 (1), pp. 131-151 : 140

Osteomugil cunnesius ( Valenciennes, 1836)

(Figure: 8)

D1: IV; D2: 8 A: III, 9; Pc: 14–15; Pl: I, 5 L. S: 34–37; T .S: 13–14

Local name: Pharra, Boi (Sin); Palo, Murbo (Bal), Roundhead grey mullet (Eng)

FAO name: Long arm mullet

Material examined. 13 specimens of 115–302 mm TL.

Diagnosis. Body depth 25–27% of SL at first dorsal fin, 22–25% of SL at anal fin and second dorsal fin and 11–14% of SL at caudal peduncle. Origin of first dorsal fin usually nearer to snout tip than caudal fin base. Second dorsal fin vertically posterior about 1/3 to anal fin, Pectoral fin 21–25% of SL and 90–95% of head length. Scale numbers: 34–37 scales in lateral series and 13–14 in transverse series.

Description. Body moderately robust. Head deeper than wide, flattened dorsally, head length shorter than body depth. Snout short and blunt. Diameter of eye is 24–31% HL. Adipose eye fold relatively developed, extending up to half of iris. Mouth terminal, maxilla slender and weakly curved down posteriorly. Both fins are falcate and moderately scaled. First pectoral fin has 13–14 spines, long, falcate and passed beyond the origin of first dorsal fin. Pectoral axillary scale distinct and long. Caudal fin forked. Scales are ctenoid having membranous, digitated hind margin.

Color. Dorsally greenish grey to bluish brown, silver abdomen, faint longitudinal stripes on upper scale rows, caudal and second dorsal fins have black margins, pectoral fin bluish yellow with dark blue spot at its base. Anal and pelvic fins are yellowish white. Golden tinge on operculum.

Distribution. Commonly distributed in the Indo-Pacific region. Collected from Karachi fishing port and Gwadar.