Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture (2+1)

CHANOS CHANOS (Milkfish)

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body elongate, moderately compressed, without scutes along belly. Adipose (fatty) tissue covering eye. 4 branchiostegal rays. Maxilla short, not reaching back beyond eye centre; lower jaw with symphysial tubercle. Supramaxillae not present. No gular plate (small bony plate between arms of lower jaw). Dorsal and anal fins with basal sheath of scales; large axillary scales at base of pectoral and pelvic fins; caudal fin deeply forked. Scales small, cycloid (smooth); lateral line present.

SIMILAR FAMILIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Clupeidae: usually have abdominal scutes; also, no lateral line and more than 4 branchiostegal rays (except Hyperlophus, which has predorsal scutes).

Megalopidae: have a gular plate, large scales and last dorsal ray prolonged into a filament.

Elopidae: have a gular plate, a long maxilla (reaching far behind eye) and supramaxillae in upper jaw.

Engraulidae: have a pig-like snout, keeled scutes on belly, 1 or 2 supramaxillae in upper jaw and no lateral line.

Colour: silvery, darker on back.