- Title
- The fishes of the Family Sphyraenidae in the Western Indian Ocean, Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 3
- Creator
- Smith, J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley), 1897-1968
- Subject
- Western Indian Ocean, Sphyraenidae, Sphyraena, Barracudas, Sphyraenoidei
- Date
- 1956
- Type
- Text
- Identifier
- vital:14966, http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018540, Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 3
- Description
- Although the Sphyraenidae occur in all warm seas, there are probably less than twenty valid species, about twelve in the Indo-Pacific, one of which occurs in the Atlantic as well. The larger species are in most parts more of angling than commercial significance, but some of the smaller at times occur in great shoals in shallow water where they may be netted. The Sphyraenidae are of some importance as food, the flesh of all species being delicate and well flavoured. In some parts there have been reliable reports that the flesh of certain species may cause acute poisoning, but we found no evidence of this in the Western Indian Ocean. As may be deduced from the torpedo-like body and the huge mouth with formidable sabre-like teeth, the large species are fierce predators and much feared as they move with great speed and do not hesitate to attack man. They are not generally ranked very high as game fishes, for most are taken on heavy tackle put out for larger types such as Tunny and so are easily subdued. In South African seas only few species are known, and only rarely below about 32°S. They are a not uncommon catch in Natal waters, where they are known as “Sea Pike.”, Rhodes University Libraries (Digitisation), The main funds which made possible the extensive traveling necessary for adequate investigation of these wide-ranging fishes came from the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. We acknowledge also extensive facilities and assistance received in the Western Indian Ocean from the authorities of Mozambique, Tanganyika, Kenya, Zanzibar, Pemba, Seychelles and all islands, excepting French territories, there. I am indebted to my wife, Margaret Mary Smith, for the illustrations. The publication of this bulletin has been made possible by a special grant from the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
- Format
- [iii], 37-45, [46-47], ill ; 28 cm, pdf, Online version of original print version of the Ichthyological Bulletin; No. 3
- Contributor
- Smith, Margaret Mary (Illustrator)
- Publisher
- Department of Ichthyology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
- Language
- English
- Relation
- Ichthyological bulletin (Rhodes University. Department of Ichthyology)
- Rights
- Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa, CC BY-NC-SA : Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
- Full Text
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Ichthyological Bulletin
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