Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Euteleosteomorpha
Subcohors: Neoteleostei
Infracohors: Eurypterygia
Sectio: Ctenosquamata
Subsectio: Acanthomorphata
Divisio/Superordo: Acanthopterygii
Subdivisio: Percomorphaceae
Series: Eupercaria
Ordo: Spariformes
Familia: Sparidae
Genus: Sparodon
Species: S. durbanensis
Name
Sparodon Smith, 1938
References
Sparodon – Taxon details on Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
Sparodon species list in FishBase,
Froese, R. & Pauly, D. (eds.) 2022. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication, www.fishbase.org, version 08/2021.
Vernacular names
Sparodon, commonly known as the white musselcracker, musselcracker seabream, mussel cracker seabream,[1] brusher, or cracker.[2] is a monotypic genus of fish in the family Sparidae.[3] The type and only known species, Sparodon durbanensis, was first described and named by François Louis Nompar de Caumont de Laporte, comte de Castelnau, in 1861.[4]
The fish is edible and is an important food source in southern Africa.[4]
Description
S. durbanensis can grow up to a length of 120 centimeters, and a weight of around 22 kilograms.[1] Its head and body are colored silver or gray. It has darker colored fins and a white belly.[2] It has large teeth and has strongly developed jaws, allowing it to eat its prey easier.[5]
Behavior
S. durbanensis mostly stays in shallow reefs as a juvenile, in depths no greater than 12 m. Some adult specimens are thought to migrate northeasterly seasonally.[1] The average length of time between two generations, called the generation time, is 13 years for the species. Young typically spawn from August to January. They can live to be around 31 years old. The species reaches 50% maturity when it is around 5+1⁄2 years old.[1]
S, durbanensis eats a variety of invertebrates commonly known as shellfish, including sea urchins, crustaceans, gastropods, and bristle worms. In addition to this, it has also been known to eat Eukaryotes in the Chlorophyta division, a group of green algae.[1]
Distribution and conservation
S. durbanensis is found in the South-east Atlantic Ocean. It mostly inhabits Southern Africa, and has not been recorded further north than the KwaZulu-Natal province.[1] It lives in shallow coastal tropical waters, in depths of up to 80 meters.[4] The population of S. durbanensis is currently declining. It is listed as "Near Threatened" by IUCN. There are currently several conservation actions taking place, most notability one which limits people to two fish per day.[1][2]
References
Mann, B.Q.; Buxton, C.D.; Carpenter, K.E. (2014). "Sparodon durbanensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T170226A1297047. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T170226A1297047.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
"Factsheet - White Musselcracker - Sparodon durbanensis". Biodiversity Advisor. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
Pauly, D.; Froese, R. "Sparodon durbanensis (Castelnau, 1861)". WoRMS. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
"Sparodon durbanensis (Castelnau, 1861) Musselcracker seabream". Fishbase.
"White musselcracker". Two Oceans Aquarium Cape Town. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
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