Planiliza melinopterus

Planiliza melinopterus (Valenciennes, 1836)

(Figure: 11)

D1: IV; D2: 8 A: III, 9; Pc: 13–15; Pl: I, 5 L. S: 26–32; T.S: 9–11

Local name: Boi, Mori (Sin); Murbo (BAL); large scale mullet (Eng)

FAO name: Otemebora mullet

Material examined. 29 specimens of 130–246 mm TL.

Diagnosis. Body depth is 24–31% of SL at origin of first dorsal fin, 22–26% of SL at anus and 11–15 % of SL at caudal peduncle. Head pointed, deeper than wide and flattened dorsally. First dorsal fin originates nearer to base of caudal fin than to tip of snout. Second dorsal fin originates at vertical almost behind half of anal fin base. Pectoral fin 17–22% of SL and 70–81% of HL. Scale numbers: 26–32 in lateral series and 9–11 scales in transverse series.

Description. Body moderately robust, well compressed at caudal peduncle, body profile convex, snout to fin dorsal fin origin nearly straight in adults. Head length more or less equal to body depth. Adipose eye-fold is not well developed usually as narrow rim around eye. Snout depressed with blunt profile and shorter than eye diameter. Mouth terminal, lips thin. Distal part of maxilla moderately curved down. Dorsal fins are emarginated and scaled basally. Caudal fin is emarginated and scaled. Pectoral fin has I, 13–15 rays not reaching to the origin of first dorsal fin, Pectoral axillary scale absent. Ventral fins are shorter than pectoral fin. Scales are ctenoid.

Color. Dorsally olive brown, flanks silvery, abdomen whitish ventrally, upper scale rows with faint longitudinal stripes, dorsal and caudal fins dusky, anal and ventral fins white.

Distribution. Distributed in Indo-Pacific region. Collected from Karachi Fishing port, WWFH (Sandpit), Indus delta, Damb.