Threadfin breams

Nemipteridae

The Nemipteridae family, comprising of threadfin breams, whiptail breams, or alternatively referred to as Sultan Ibrahim, represents a significant group within the marine ray-finned fish category and falls under the order Spariformes. The geographical distribution of this family predominantly spans the Indo-West Pacific region.

Members of the Nemipteridae family exhibit distinct morphological features, most notable of which include a unbroken dorsal fin consisting of 10 spiny rays followed by 9 soft rays, as compared to the anal fin which is structured with 3 spiny rays augmented by either 7 or 8 soft rays. A selection of species from this family exhibit an elongated filamentous extension emanating from the upper segment of the caudal fin. It is also important to note that several species, prominently those classified within the genus Scolopsis, exhibit protogynous hermaphroditism.

Sizes among the species in the Nemipteridae family vary considerably. At the lower end of the spectrum is the redfin dwarf monocle bream (Parascolopsis boesemani), which attains a maximum documented standard length of 17 centimeters. Conversely, the monogrammed monocle bream (Scolopsis monogramma) ranks as one of the larger species, with records indicating a maximum total length of 38 centimeters.

Nemipteridae species have been recorded not only within their native habitat of the Indo-West Pacific but have expanded their presence to the Mediterranean Sea as well. The occurrence of species such as Nemipterus japonicus and Nemipterus randalli in this non-native region has been attributed to Lessepsian migration via the Suez Canal (🇪🇬 Egypt). The dietary habits of these fish are primarily piscivorous, preying on benthic organisms that include fish, crustaceans, polychaetes, and cephalopods. However, it is noteworthy that certain species have an inclination towards zooplankton consumption.

The significance of Nemipteridae fish is underscored by their substantial contribution to the catch volume in commercial and artisanal fishing operations across the 🇮🇳 Indian and 🌊 Pacific Oceans. Despite their importance in fisheries, these species are typically not sought after for the aquarium trade.