King Soldierbream

Argyrops spinifer, commonly known as the king soldierbream, Bowen snapper, long-spined red bream, longfin snapper, longspine seabream, or red bokako, is a species of marine ray-finned fish under the family Sparidae. This species is predominantly found in the 🌊 Indian Ocean.

First described as Sparus spinifer in 1775 by Swedish-speaking Finnish naturalist Peter Forsskål, its type locality is recorded as Jeddah, 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia. In 1839, William John Swainson proposed the monotypic subgenus Argyrops within Chrysophrys for this species, thus making it the type species of the genus Argyrops. Argyrops bleekeri, a species located in 🇦🇺 Australia and the Western Pacific, was once considered conspecific with Argyrops spinifer but is now recognized as a distinct species. This taxon forms a species complex with A. flavops, identified in 2018 from the Arabian Sea. The 5th edition of Fishes of the World places the genus Argyrops in the family Sparidae within the order Spariformes; some authorities classify it in the subfamily Sparinae, though the 5th edition does not recognize subfamilies within Sparidae.

The specific name "spinifer," meaning "thorn bearer," is thought to refer to the species' first dorsal fin spine, which is simple and forward-pointing. Argyrops spinifer is characterized by having between 11 and 13 spines supporting its dorsal fin, with the first two spines being very short and positioned on the same dorsal pterygiophore, as well as 9 to 10 soft rays. This species, along with A. flavops, is distinguished by the presence of 4–6 very long and filamentous spines in the dorsal fin, typically the 3rd to 6th or 3rd to 8th, observed in juveniles and subadults. The anal fin comprises 3 spines and 8 soft rays. The species has a deep, strongly compressed body with a standard length approximately 1.8 to 2 times its depth. Larger adults, exceeding 60 cm in standard length, exhibit a convex growth on the nape. The body is predominantly silvery pinkish, darker on the head and upper body, with a typically dark red upper opercular margin. All fins are reddish, though the pelvic and anal fins are the palest. Juveniles and subadults display several red vertical bars on their bodies. The maximum reported total length for the king soldierbream is 80 cm, with a more typical length around 30 cm.

The exact distribution of Argyrops spinifer in the 🌊 Indian Ocean is challenging to ascertain due to its similarity to other species and geographical forms. It inhabits depths ranging from 5 to 100 meters, with juveniles and subadults favoring shallower, more protected environments. Predominantly a predator, Argyrops spinifer preys on benthic invertebrates, especially molluscs. It may exhibit protogynous hermaphroditism, and spawning in the Arabian Sea has been observed from November to January, following the monsoon season.

Argyrops spinifer holds significant value in both recreational and commercial fisheries, being captured using bottom trawls, handlines, and fish traps, and is under exploration for aquaculture potential in 🇴🇲 Oman.