Pentanemus quinquarius (Linnaeus, 1758)
Royal threadfin
Pentanemus quinquarius
photo by FAO

Family:  Polynemidae (Threadfins)
Max. size:  35 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 10 - 70 m,
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Senegal to Angola (Ref. 57402). Also reported from Mauritania (Ref. 10799) and Cape Verde (Ref. 27000). Reported from Cuba based on a single specimen; no other specimens taken from the western Atlantic (Ref. 57343).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-18; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 28-30. Diagnosis: detached pectoral filaments very long, exceeding body length; base of anal fin much longer than base of 2nd dorsal fin; body moderately elongate and compressed, its height comprised 3.0-3.4 in standard length; snout very short, blunt and prominent; mouth inferior; maxillary bone strongly widened at its end, reaching largely past eye; 2 widely separated dorsal fins, 1st with 8 flexible spines, 2nd with 1 spine and 14-18 soft rays; anal fin base much longer than 2nd dorsal fin base; pectoral fin inserted very low on body; threadlike filaments, 5 in number, 4 of them longer than total length of fish; scales ctenoid; head scaly (Ref. 57402). Coloration: body uniformly silvery, greyish on back, shading to whitish ventrally; fins tinged with yellow (Ref. 57402).
Biology:  Occurs over sandy (Ref. 2683) and muddy bottoms in shallow waters (Ref. 57343), frequently in brackish waters (Ref. 57343, 57402) and estuaries (Ref. 57402). Carnivorous (Ref. 57402), feeds on fish and shrimps (Ref. 28587).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 15 July 2014 (A2bd) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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