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Bamin (Eleutheronema tetradactylum) — Polynemidae

Bamin

Eleutheronema tetradactylum
Family: Polynemidae

The Bamin (Eleutheronema tetradactylum) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Polynemidae that grows up to 200 cm.

Length
200 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Depth
0.0–23.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific, from the Persian Gulf and India to Australia.
Edibility
Highly prized

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Description

The fourfinger threadfin is a large fish of the family Polynemidae occurring in coastal waters of the Indo-West Pacific. The species owes its name to the four free, thread-like lower pectoral-fin rays, which serve as feelers to detect prey in turbid water. The body is elongate and silvery and can reach about 2 m. It lives over shallow muddy bottoms and enters rivers and estuaries. The diet consists of prawns and fishes. The species is protandrous (first male, then female) and a highly prized food fish.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bamin?

The Bamin has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern. Four free, thread-like lower pectoral fin rays as feelers; protandrous hermaphrodite.

Where does the Bamin live?

The Bamin lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around open water. Indo-West Pacific, from the Persian Gulf and India to Australia.

How big does the Bamin get?

The Bamin grows to a maximum of about 200 cm. On average the species is around 50 cm.

Is the Bamin dangerous to humans?

No, the Bamin is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Bamin edible?

Yes, the Bamin is a highly prized food fish.

More photos

Bamin (Eleutheronema tetradactylum) — Polynemidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Nick Lambert, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA))
Bamin (Eleutheronema tetradactylum) — Polynemidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Henry Sullivan Thomas (Public domain)
Bamin (Eleutheronema tetradactylum) — Polynemidae — 4
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Bamin (Eleutheronema tetradactylum) — Polynemidae — 5
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
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All data

Identification

English name
Bamin verified
Scientific name
Eleutheronema tetradactylum
Family
Polynemidae
Other names
Bastard mullets; Blind tasselfish; Blind tassel-fish; Blue salmon; Fourfinger threadfin; Threadfin; Giant threadfin; Blue threadfin; Burnett salmon; Four finger thread fin; Indian salmon; Bluenose salmon verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
200.0 verified
Average length (cm)
50.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Open water sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
23.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific, from the Persian Gulf and India to Australia. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Shrimps and fishes sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Protandrous (male first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Adults migrate up the rivers in winter. inferred
Special features
Four free, thread-like lower pectoral fin rays as feelers; protandrous hermaphrodite. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Highly prized sourced
Fishing method
Caught with gillnets and trawls; a very important commercial food fish. sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Eleutheronema

More from the family Polynemidae

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