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Palefinned threadfin bream (Nemipterus marginatus) — Nemipteridae

Palefinned threadfin bream

Nemipterus marginatus
Family: Nemipteridae
LC · Least Concern

The Palefinned threadfin bream (Nemipterus marginatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Nemipteridae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
15.6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
12.0–70.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The red filament threadfin bream is a threadfin bream from the Indo-West Pacific, including the South China Sea, the Strait of Malacca, Sumatra, Java, northern Australia and the Solomon Islands. The species grows to about 18 cm and has a rosy body with a silvery underside and yellow head stripes; the upper caudal lobe extends into a short, reddish filament. As a bottom-dweller the fish lives in groups on sand and mud bottoms between about 12 and 70 metres depth and feeds on small bottom animals. It is a commercially caught fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Palefinned threadfin bream?

The Palefinned threadfin bream has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly pink-purple and shows a plain pattern. Short reddish filament on the upper caudal lobe; yellow head stripes

Where does the Palefinned threadfin bream live?

The Palefinned threadfin bream lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Indo-West Pacific

How big does the Palefinned threadfin bream get?

The Palefinned threadfin bream grows to a maximum of about 16 cm. On average the species is around 13 cm.

Is the Palefinned threadfin bream dangerous to humans?

No, the Palefinned threadfin bream is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Palefinned threadfin bream edible?

Yes, the Palefinned threadfin bream is commonly eaten.

More photos

Palefinned threadfin bream (Nemipterus marginatus) — Nemipteridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Brian, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Palefinned threadfin bream (Nemipterus marginatus) — Nemipteridae — 3
Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF
Palefinned threadfin bream (Nemipterus marginatus) — Nemipteridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Jiayuan Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Palefinned threadfin bream verified
Scientific name
Nemipterus marginatus
Family
Nemipteridae
Other names
Palefinned threadfin bream; Red filament threadfin bream; Red-filament threadfin bream; Threadfin bream verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
15.6 verified
Average length (cm)
13.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Pink / purple inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
12.0 verified
Max depth (m)
70.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small benthic invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Bottom-dweller of sandy and muddy bottoms; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Short reddish filament on the upper caudal lobe; yellow head stripes sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bottom fishing with shrimp or pieces of fish over sand and mud bottoms. sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Nemipterus

More from the family Nemipteridae

Fin

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