Savalai hairtail
📖 Overview
Inhabits coastal waters and often comes near the surface at night. Feeds on a variety of small fishes and crustaceans (chiefly on prawns and species of Setippina, Anchoviella, Harpodon, Trichiurus etc. in Hooghly estuaries in India). Caught mainly with shore seines, bagnets and coastal bottom trawls in Asian countries. Marketed fresh and iced as well as dried salted.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 3 - 4; Dorsal soft rays (total): 110 - 120. Pelvic and caudal fins absent; anal fin reduced to spinules (about 75). Lateral line running nearer the ventral than the dorsal contour of the body. Color is steely blue with metallic reflections; the tapering part white. The margin of the anus pale; usually the margin of the caudal-fin membrane white; tip of both jaws black; the inside of the opercle and the anterior part of the shoulder girdle, pale black.: elongated; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Savalai hairtail is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; depth range 0 - 100 m . Tropical; 36°N - 17°S, 69°E - 154°E West Pacific: India and Sri Lanka to Southeast Asia, north to China, and south to New Guinea and northern Australia.
🌿 Ecology
a variety of small fishes and crustaceans (chiefly on prawns and species of Setippina, Anchoviella,
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Savalai hairtail is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 168 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Savalai hairtail has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Savalani hairtail · small-headed ribbonfish · spiny hairtail |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Togetachiuo · トゲタチウオ |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Малоголовый лептуракант |
| 🌍THA | ปลาดาบเงิน |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 帶魚 · 沙帶魚 · 沙帶魚(帶魚) |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 4 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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