Osteomugil engeli (Bleeker, 1858)

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 : 139-140

Osteomugil engeli (Bleeker, 1858)

(Figure: 7)

D1: IV; D2: 8 A: III, 9; Pc: 14–16; Pl: I, 5 L. S: 30–35; T .S: 9–12

Local name. Kanda

FAO name. Boi, Pharra (Sin), Murbo (Bal)

Material examined. 24 specimens of 124–326 mm TL.

Diagnosis. Body depth 26–30% of SL at first dorsal fin origin, 21–25% of SL at anal and second dorsal fin origin and 12–14% of SL at caudal peduncle depth. First dorsal fin origin is nearer to base of caudal fin than to the tip of snout. Second dorsal fin origin at vertical, posterior to one quarter or one third of the base of anal fin. Pectoral fin 22–26 % of SL and 70–92 % of head length HL. Scale numbers: 30–35 scales in longitudinal series, 9–12 scales in transverse series.

Description. Robust body. Head deeper than wide, dorsally flattened, its length is equal to or slightly greater than body depth. Eye diameter is 23–30 % of HL. Adipose eye fold developed adequately covering most of the eye. Terminal mouth, thin lips, slender maxilla slightly curved downwards. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins are emarginated and basally scaled. Pelvic fin is shorter than the length of pectoral fin. First pectoral fin has14–16 falcate and long spines reach to the level of first dorsal fin or passed beyond it. Pectoral axillary scale long. Scales are ctenoid having membranous digitated hind margin.

Color. Dorsally olive, silver abdomen and flanks, dorsal, anal, pelvic and caudal fins are hyaline. Pectoral fin hyaline with dark spot at origin.

Distribution. Widespread across Indo-Pacific region. Collected from Fishing port Karachi, Somniani, Keti Bunder.