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Fork-tailed threadfin (Nemipterus furcosus) — Nemipteridae

Fork-tailed threadfin

Nemipterus furcosus
Family: Nemipteridae
LC · Least Concern

The Fork-tailed threadfin (Nemipterus furcosus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Nemipteridae that grows up to 24 cm.

Length
24 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
8–110 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific, from the eastern Indian Ocean to the western Pacific.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The fork-tailed threadfin bream is a tropical marine fish of the family Nemipteridae from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a spindle-shaped, pink to reddish body and a deeply forked tail whose upper lobe trails into a thin filament. It lives demersally over sand and mud bottoms and in sheltered estuaries to about 110 m deep, feeding mainly on crustaceans and small fishes. The fish reaches about 24 cm and is of major importance to commercial trawl fisheries, including off northwestern Australia. The flesh is an esteemed food fish.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Fork-tailed threadfin?

The Fork-tailed threadfin has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly red-orange and shows a plain pattern. Deeply forked tail with a thread-like extended upper lobe; important commercial trawl fish.

Where does the Fork-tailed threadfin live?

The Fork-tailed threadfin lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific, from the eastern Indian Ocean to the western Pacific.

How big does the Fork-tailed threadfin get?

The Fork-tailed threadfin grows to a maximum of about 24 cm. On average the species is around 18 cm.

Is the Fork-tailed threadfin dangerous to humans?

No, the Fork-tailed threadfin is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Fork-tailed threadfin edible?

Yes, the Fork-tailed threadfin is commonly eaten.

More photos

Fork-tailed threadfin (Nemipterus furcosus) — Nemipteridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Noa, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fork-tailed threadfin (Nemipterus furcosus) — Nemipteridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) neatbug, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fork-tailed threadfin (Nemipterus furcosus) — Nemipteridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Thomas Menut, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fork-tailed threadfin (Nemipterus furcosus) — Nemipteridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Thomas Menut, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Fork-tailed threadfin verified
Scientific name
Nemipterus furcosus
Family
Nemipteridae
Other names
Forktailed threadfin bream; Fork-tailed threadfin bream; Rosy threadfin bream; Threadfin bream; Gold perch; Peron's butterfly-bream; Peron's threadfin bream; Red butterfly bream verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
24 verified
Average length (cm)
18 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange
Pattern
Plain
Tail shape
Forked
Mouth position
Terminal
Lips
Thin
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
8 verified
Max depth (m)
110 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific, from the eastern Indian Ocean to the western Pacific.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Crustaceans and small fishes sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Deeply forked tail with a thread-like extended upper lobe; important commercial trawl fish. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Nemipterus

More from the family Nemipteridae

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