Diagnostic Description
provided by FAO species catalogs
Body cilindrical. Characterized by the presence of a horizontal skin fold along ventral contour, absence of pelvic fin and teeth. Cycloid scales. Lateral plicae 160 to 180. Lower jaw pointed. Lateral line system of head discontinuous with that of body. Dorsal fin with 55-59. Anal fin with 28-32. Pectoral with 15-16. Gillrakers 4-6 + 20-23.
- H. Masuda; K. Amaoka; C. Araga; T. Uyeno; T. Yoshino (eds.). The Fishes of the Japanese Archipelago. Tokai Univ. Press 222 pp. Species 2000 Dynamic (Checklist Query).
- Ida, H. - 1984. Ammodytidae.
Distribution
provided by FAO species catalogs
Western Pacific from the Inland Sea of Japan to Hokkaido.
Size
provided by FAO species catalogs
Usually attains to 15 cm.
Brief Summary
provided by FAO species catalogs
Forms large schools.Aestivates in bottom sand. Spawns in early spring. Feed on zooplankton.
Benefits
provided by FAO species catalogs
The total catch reported for this species to FAO for 1999 was 82 918 t. The countries with the largest catches were Japan (82 918 t). Important food fish in Japan. Marketed fresh or dried and marketed fresh but mainly used for meal and oil manufacture in Europe.
Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
Characterized by having a horizontal skin fold along its ventral contour, and the absence of pelvic fin and teeth. Lateral plicae 160 to 180. Lower jaw pointed. Lateral line system on head not continuous with that on the body.
Migration
provided by Fishbase
Oceanodromous. Migrating within oceans typically between spawning and different feeding areas, as tunas do. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.
Morphology
provided by Fishbase
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 55 - 59; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 28 - 32; Vertebrae: 62 - 67
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Found in sand bottoms and may enter semi-enclosed sea areas (Ref. 11230). Forms large schools. Important food fish in Japan (marketed fresh or dried) and marketed fresh but mainly used for meal and oil manufacture in Europe (Ref. 10384). Common size taken from picture in Ref. 559. Maximum size estimated as 1.5 * common size. Two genetically different lineages were found in Japan Sea/East Sea, perhaps representing two different species (J.K. Kim, oral.comm, FishBoL2012, June 2012).
Importance
provided by Fishbase
fisheries: highly commercial; price category: very high; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species