Large-headed whiting
Encyclopedia
The large-headed whiting, Sillago megacephalus, is a dubious species
of coastal marine
fish in the smelt-whiting
family that has only been recorded from one specimen
captured off the coast of China
in 1933. Although very similar to Sillago sihama, the species is characterised by an unusually large head which accounts for 33% of the total body
length.
in the genus
Sillago
, which is one of three divisions of the smelt whiting family Sillaginidae
. The smelt-whitings are Perciformes
in the suborder Percoidei
.
The only specimen of the species ever recorded was taken from Paoping Harbour in Hainan
, China
in 1933. Lin recorded the new species, designating the only sample to be the holotype
of the species. In preparation of a 1985 review of the sillaginids, Roland McKay was unable to locate the holotype and has presumed it to be lost. McKay noted that based on its description, all features except an unusually large head where characteristic of the common species Sillago sihama, suggesting the S. megacephalus is actually a junior synonym of S. sihama. The common name of 'large-headed whiting' is a straight translation from its binomial name, signifying the diagnostic head length.
length which is 33% of the body length, compared to the 27-30% observed in S. sihama. The first
dorsal fin
has 11 spines, while the second dorsal fin has a single spine and 22 soft rays. The anal fin is similar with two spines and 23 soft rays. There are about 70 lateral line
scales. The colour is uniform all over the body, with only the tip of the spinous dorsal fins black. Little else is known, including swimbladder morphology and vertebrae numbers. The specimen described was 158 mm in length.
ese waters, with no other records known of, and no information of the habitat
or depth the species lives at available.
Aspects of the species biology
and importance to fisheries are completely unknown at the present.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of coastal marine
Marine (ocean)
Marine is an umbrella term. As an adjective it is usually applicable to things relating to the sea or ocean, such as marine biology, marine ecology and marine geology...
fish in the smelt-whiting
Sillaginidae
The Sillaginidae, commonly known as the smelt-whitings, whitings, sillaginids, sand borers and sand-smelts, are a family of benthic coastal marine fishes in the order Perciformes. The smelt-whitings inhabit a wide region covering much of the Indo-Pacific, from the west coast of Africa east to Japan...
family that has only been recorded from one specimen
Specimen
A specimen is a portion/quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study.BiologyA laboratory specimen is an individual animal, part of an animal, a plant, part of a plant, or a microorganism, used as a representative to study the properties of the whole population of that species or...
captured off the coast of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1933. Although very similar to Sillago sihama, the species is characterised by an unusually large head which accounts for 33% of the total body
Body
With regard to living things, a body is the physical body of an individual. "Body" often is used in connection with appearance, health issues and death...
length.
Taxonomy and naming
The large-headed whiting is one of 29 speciesSpecies
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Sillago
Sillago
Sillago is one of three genera in the family Sillaginidae containing the smelt-whitings, and contains 29 species, making Sillago the only non-monotypic genus in the family. Distinguishing among Sillago species can be difficult, with many similar in appearance and colour, forcing the use of swim...
, which is one of three divisions of the smelt whiting family Sillaginidae
Sillaginidae
The Sillaginidae, commonly known as the smelt-whitings, whitings, sillaginids, sand borers and sand-smelts, are a family of benthic coastal marine fishes in the order Perciformes. The smelt-whitings inhabit a wide region covering much of the Indo-Pacific, from the west coast of Africa east to Japan...
. The smelt-whitings are Perciformes
Perciformes
The Perciformes, also called the Percomorphi or Acanthopteri, is one of the largest orders of vertebrates, containing about 40% of all bony fish. Perciformes means perch-like. They belong to the class of ray-finned fish and comprise over 7,000 species found in almost all aquatic environments...
in the suborder Percoidei
Percoidei
Percoidei is one of eighteen suborders of bony fish in the order Perciformes. Many commercially harvested fish species are contained in this suborder, including the snappers, jacks, whitings, groupers, bass, perches and porgies.-Divisions:...
.
The only specimen of the species ever recorded was taken from Paoping Harbour in Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1933. Lin recorded the new species, designating the only sample to be the holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
of the species. In preparation of a 1985 review of the sillaginids, Roland McKay was unable to locate the holotype and has presumed it to be lost. McKay noted that based on its description, all features except an unusually large head where characteristic of the common species Sillago sihama, suggesting the S. megacephalus is actually a junior synonym of S. sihama. The common name of 'large-headed whiting' is a straight translation from its binomial name, signifying the diagnostic head length.
Description
As already noted, the large-headed whiting is very similar to Sillago sihama, but has a headHead
In anatomy, the head of an animal is the rostral part that usually comprises the brain, eyes, ears, nose and mouth . Some very simple animals may not have a head, but many bilaterally symmetric forms do....
length which is 33% of the body length, compared to the 27-30% observed in S. sihama. The first
dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
has 11 spines, while the second dorsal fin has a single spine and 22 soft rays. The anal fin is similar with two spines and 23 soft rays. There are about 70 lateral line
Lateral line
The lateral line is a sense organ in aquatic organisms , used to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water. Lateral lines are usually visible as faint lines running lengthwise down each side, from the vicinity of the gill covers to the base of the tail...
scales. The colour is uniform all over the body, with only the tip of the spinous dorsal fins black. Little else is known, including swimbladder morphology and vertebrae numbers. The specimen described was 158 mm in length.
Distribution and habitat
The only known specimen of large-headed whiting was taken from TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
ese waters, with no other records known of, and no information of the habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
or depth the species lives at available.
Aspects of the species biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and importance to fisheries are completely unknown at the present.