African moonfish
📖 Overview
Adults usually found near the bottom . Occasionally enters lagoons and estuaries, especially during juvenile stage . Juveniles occur in surface waters often near bays and river mouths . Form schools . Feed on crustaceans and small fishes . Eggs are pelagic .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23 - 24; Anal spines: 1 - 3; Anal soft rays: 18 - 20. Diagnosis: body short, deep (depth comprised 1.7-2.3 times in fork length) and strongly compressed; head with a typical hump above eyes and a steep frontal profile that is slightly concave in front of eyes; lower jaw prominent; 2 dorsal fins, 1st with 8 spines that are very short in adults, 2nd with 1 spine and 23 or 24 soft rays; anal fin with 2 anterior detached spines (resorbed in adults), followed by 1 spine and 18-20 soft rays; anterior lobes of soft dorsal and anal fins small or indistinct; pelvic fins very short, nearly rudimentary; body (except breast) entirely covered with minute cycloid scales embedded in the skin; lateral line distinctly arched over pectoral fins, with some weak scutes on the straight posterior part; 2 lateral keels at base of caudal fin . Silvery with faint dusky opercular spot; juveniles with oval black spot over straight lateral line . Coloration: entirely silvery with bluish reflections that are more pronounced on dorsal half; a blackish spot at upper angle of gill cover; in juveniles, another blackish spot on sides of body, at the inflexion point of the lateral line; fins hyaline .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for African moonfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for African moonfish is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Reproduction data for African moonfish is currently being compiled.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 20 - 100 m , usually ? - 60 m . Subtropical; 39°N - 28°S Atlantic Ocean: Madeira, Canarias, Cabo Verde and from Senegal to Namibia.
🌿 Ecology
crustaceans and small fishes (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"African moonfish 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 | 19.1 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 468 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for African moonfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | African lookdown · African Moonfish · Bluntnose · Guinean Moonfish · Hair-finned Silverfish · Lookdown Fish · pampano · Pomp · Shiner |
| 🏳️Catalan | Selene africà |
| 🌍CES | kranas africký |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Afrikansk hestehoved |
| 🇩🇪German | Goldtaler · Pferdekopf |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | afrikanmurjottaja |
| 🇫🇷French | Assiette Atlantique · Musso africain · Mussolini · Vomer |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pesce ascia |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Corcovado · Corcovado-africano · Mussolini · Peixe-prata |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Африканская рыба-луна |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Caracaballo · Crita · Jorobado · Jorobado africano · Lamparosa · Reloj |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 隆背月鰺 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selene gibbiceps | Gilchrist | 1914 | Synonym |
| Selene goreensis | Guichenot | 1866 | Heterotypic |
| Vomer dorsalis | Gill | 1863 | Synonym |
| Vomer gabonensis | Guichenot | 1866 | Synonym |
| Vomer gibbiceps | Gilchrist | 1914 | Synonym |
| Vomer goreensis | Guichenot | 1866 | Synonym |
| Vomer senegalensis | Guichenot | 1866 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 235 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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