Sparidentex hasta (Valenciennes, 1830)

Common name: Sobaity Seabream

Local names: Dathi (Sindh); Nawar (Balochistan) (Figures 13 & 15 I, J; Table 1)

Chrysophrys cuvieri Day, 1875: 141, Pl. 34 (fig. 3) (Seas of India); Whitehead & Talwar, 1976: 160. Dentex hasta Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1830: 255 (Malabar, India); Bauchot & Daget, 1972: 48 (Not the same as Acanthopagrus hasta (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) .

Diagnosis. Following combination of characters distinguishes this species: dorsal-fin rays XI,11–12; anal-fin rays III, 8; scale rows between the 5th dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 5½, scale rows between the ninth dorsal-fin spine base to lateral line 5–5½, scale rows below first dorsal spine to the lateral line 5½, scale rows below the lateral line 12½; pored lateral line scales 47–48; body depth 34–37%, head length 32–33%, snout deep 9–10 %, caudal peduncle length 21–23% in standard length; no molariform teeth in both jaws, 4–6 enlarged fang-like slightly curved conical teeth at anterior portion of both jaws, villi–form teeth rows present in upper and lower jaws; 2nd and 3rd anal-fin spine subequal in length, ratio of 2nd anal-fin spine / 3rd anal-fin spine 1.0–1.2.

Description. Body compressed and nearly cylindrical; mouth somewhat oblique, lips thick; snout somewhat pointed, two nostrils just in front of both eyes; upper jaw protruding slightly in front of lower jaw; maxilla reaching to bellow mid eye level (pupil or center of orbit); at front of each jaw, 4–6 enlarged, fang-like, conical teeth, outer series of lateral teeth conical and compressed with parallel rows of villiform teeth; least suborbital depth is much shorter than eye diameter, 6 (6–7) transvers rows of scales on cheek; anterodorsal profile ascending somewhat gently from mouth to eyes and above; profile of fish body is somewhat arched; Head and eyes moderately large; no scales on preopercular flange; its posterior margin weakly serrated; low scaly sheath on soft dorsal and anal-fin ray bases; dorsal-fin spines strong, first one is smaller (4.5–6.0% of SL), fourth one is longer (13–19% of SL); first anal-fin spine short (4–12% of SL); 2nd and 3rd anal-fin spine subequal (11–14% of SL); pectoral-fin long nearly equal to head length, pelvic-fin spine longer than snout length; caudal fin forked and both lobes are pointed.

Color of fresh specimens. Head and dorsal part of body olive silvery, becoming silvery-white up to belly; scales are with diffused black margins that shows longitudinal and transverse narrow stripes on the body; dorsal and anal-fin rays gray to blackish, soft rays light blackish and hyaline, membranes of the dorsal and anal-fins are dusky grey; pectoral light yellow to whitish and pelvic-fins light grayish to whitish; a black spot in pectoral axilla and a diffuse black spot on beginning of lateral line; caudal fin dusky and posterior margin darker.

Distribution. Western Indian Ocean: Persian Gulf and coasts of India.