Kyphosus cinerascens (Forsskal, 1775)

English Name: Snubnose rudderfish, Blue sea chub
Family: KYPHOSIDAE
Local Name: Kirulhiya mas
Order: Perciformes
Size: Max. 45 cm
Specimen: MRS/0048/86

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Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 1 1 spines and 1 2 rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 11 rays. Pectoral fin rays 17-19. Soft portion of dorsal fin distinctly elevated higher than tallest dorsal spine. Preoperculum very finely serrated with a blunt spine. Snout short and profile steep.

Colour: Dark grey above, lighter below. Longitudinal dark lines on sides. Silvery hand below eye. Fins mainly dark brown.

Habitat and Biology: Occurs in shallow coastal waters. Swims in groups high in water column during the day, but at night it swims alone near the bottom. Omnivorous hut feeds mainly on benthic algae.

Distribution: Indo-Pacific.

Remarks: Kyphosus cinerascens is very similar in appearance with K. vaigiensis (Quoy and Gaimard), but both can be differentiated easily on the basis of fin counts and shape of the dorsal fin. In K. t’aigiensis the dorsal soft rays usually number 14, and are not higher than the dorsal spines.

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Gerres oyena (Forsskál, 1775)

English Name: Common silverbiddy
Family: GERREIDAE
Local Name: Uniya
Order: Perciformes
Size: Common to 15 cm; max. 25 cm
Specimen: MRS/0064/87

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Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 10 rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 7 rays. Pectoral fin with 15 or 17 rays. Body depth 3.0-3.3 in standard length. Body very slender. Second anal spine slender and short, equal to or shorter than eye diameter. Caudal fin deeply forked.

Colour: Pale olive above to silvery below. 7 or 8 faint dusky bars on sides of body, more pronounced in juveniles. Prominent black tips to spinous part of dorsal fin. Caudal fin uniformly dusky.

Habitat and Biology: Occurs along sandy beaches to a depth of 20 m. Also enters estuaries and brackish lagoons. Feeds on small organisms living on sandy bottoms.

Distribution: Indo-Pacific.

Remarks: Gerres ovena is common in shallow sandy lagoons of Maldives. It was previously misidentified as G. lucidus Cuvier in the Catalogue of Fishes of the Maldives, Vol. 1, page 66.

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Caranx ignobilis (Forsskal, 1775)

English Name: Giant trevally
Family: CARANGIDAE
Local Name: Muda handhi
Order: Perciformes
Size: Common to 80cm; max. 1.7 m
Specimen:MRS/P0149/87

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Distinctive Characters: First dorsal fin with 8 spines, second dorsal fin with I spine and 18-21 rays. Anal fin with 2 detached spines, followed by 1 spine and 15-17 rays. Gill rakers on first gill arch including the rudiments, 20-24. Body depth 2.7-3.8 in fork length. Strong scutes, breast naked ventrally, typically with a small patch of prepelvic scales.

Colour: Adults mainly silvery grey to black above, usually palerbelow. No dark spot at upper end of opercle. Fins usually uniformly pigmented grey to black.

Habitat and Biology: Abundant in all marine habitats to a depth of 80 m. Ubiquitous, but prefers hard bottoms. Forms loose schools. Feeds mainly on fish, but also on cuttle fish, squids and crustaceans.

Distribution: Widespread in Indo-West Pacific.

Remarks: Caranx ignohilis is the largest of the trevallies or jacks and although small specimens may be confused with other species (e.g. C. lugubris), large specimens are unmistakable.

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Carangoides fulvoguttatus (Forsskal, 1775)

English Name: Yellow-spotted trevally
Family: CARANGIDAE
Local Name: Dhon thiki handhi
Order: Perciformes
Size: Max. I m
Specimen: MRS/0502/97

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Distinctive Characters: First dorsal fin with 8 spines, second dorsal fin with I spine and 25-30 rays.. Anal fin with 2 detached spines, followed by 1 spine and 21-26 rays. Total gill rakers (including rudiments) on first gill arch 22-27. Profile of head and nape slightly angularbecoming more steep with age. Adults’ mouth cleft distinctly below eye level.

Colour: Blue green above, silvery white below, usually with many small yellow spots on sides. Large adults with 3 black blotches in a mid-lateral row on flanks.

Habitat and Biology: Occurs in schools on rocky and coral reefs, but is occasionally found over offshore banks to depth of 100 m. Feeds mainly on invertebrates and fish.

Distribution: lndo-Pacific.

Remarks: Carangoidesfulvoguttatus is often observed patrolling the edge of reefs in its continuous search for food. This species appears not soabundant in the Maldives. However, individuals do occasionallyappear in Male fish market.

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Carangoides ferdau (Forsskal, 1775)

English Name: Blue trevally
Family: CARANGIDAE
Local Name: Dhabaru handhi
Order: Perciformes
Size: Max. 70 cm
Specimen: MRS/P0l40/87

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Distinctive Characters: First dorsal fin with 8 spines, second dorsal fin with I spine and 26-34 rays. Anal fin with 2 detached spines, followed by I spine and 21-26 rays. Gill rakers on first gill arch including the rudiments, 24-29. Snout bluntly rounded. Breast naked ventrally to origin of pelvic fins. Naked patch at the base of pectoral fin.

Colour: Silvery. Numerous inconspicuous golden spots present on sides mainly above level of
pectoral fins. Adults often with 5-6 dusky bands on sides.

Habitat and Biology: Coastal waters; semi-deniersal, found at depths from 5 to 60 m. Occurs singly or in small aggregations. Feeds on crustaceans or small fish.

Distribution: Indo-West Pacific.

Remarks: The many golden spots on the sides of Carangoides ferdau give it its Dhivehi name ‘Dhabaru handhi - (rusty trevally), even though there are a number of other species with more conspicuous orange markings.

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