Culturable Aquatic Species
Species Biological Features
Milkfish Body fusiform, elongated, moderately compressed, smooth and
streamlined. Body colour silvery on belly and sides grading to olive-green or blue
FN: Chanidae on back. Dorsal, anal and caudal fins pale or yellowish with dark margins. Single
dorsal fin with 2 spines and 13-17 soft rays. Short anal fin with 2 spines and 8-10
SN: Chanos chanos soft rays, close to caudal fin. Caudal fin large and deeply forked with large scale
Forsskal, 1775 flaps at base in adults. Pectoral fins low on body with axillary (inner basal) scales.
Pelvic fins abdominal with axillary scales and 11 or 12 rays. Scales cycloid, small
and smooth, 75-91 on lateral line. No scutes (modified pointed scales) along
belly. Transparent 'adipose' tissue covers eye. Mouth small and terminal without
teeth. Lower jaw with small tubercle at tip, fitting into notch in upper jaw. No bony
gular plate between arms of lower jaw. Four branchiostegal rays supporting
underside of gill covers. Gill rakers fine and numerous. Attains typical length of 1
m but may reach maximum length of 1.8 m (male).
African Catfish Body elongate. Head large, depressed and bony with small eyes. Narrow and
angular occipital process; gill openings wide; air-breathing labyrinthic organ
FN: Claridae arising from gill arches; first gill arch with 24 to 110 gillrakers; cleithrum pointed,
narrow with longitudinal ridges and with sharpness. Mouth terminal, large. Four
SN: Clarias gariepinus pairs of barbels present. Long dorsal and anal fins; without dorsal fin spine and
Burchell, 1822 adipose fin. Anterior edge of pectoral spine serrated. Caudal fin
rounded. Colour varies from sandy-yellow through gray to olive with dark
greenish-brown markings, belly white. The body of this specie is covered by a
mucus – a slippery aqueous secretion produced by, and covering, mucous
membrane.
Common Carp Body elongated and somewhat compressed. Lips thick. Two pairs of barbels
at angle of mouth, shorter ones on the upper lip. Dorsal fin base long with 17-22
FN: Cyprinidae branched rays and a strong, toothed spine in front; dorsal fin outline concave
anteriorly. Anal fin with 6-7 soft rays; posterior edge of 3rd dorsal and anal fin
SN: Cyprinus carpio spines with sharp spinules. Lateral line with 32 to 38 scales. Pharyngeal teeth 5:5,
Linnaeus, 1758 teeth with flattened crowns. Colour variable, wild carp are brownish-green on
the back and upper sides, shading to golden yellow ventrally. The fins are dusky,
ventrally with a reddish tinge. Golden carp are bred for ornamental purposes.
Habitat and Biology
Milkfish (Chanos chanos) is the only species in the Family Chanidae. Its
distribution is restricted to either low latitude tropics or the subtropical
northern hemisphere along continental shelves and around islands, where
temperatures are greater than 20 °C (Red Sea and South Africa to Hawaii
and the Marquesas, north to Japan and south to Victoria, Australia; and in
the Eastern Pacific from San Pedro, California to the Galapagos).
Milkfish can reach a maximum size of 180 cm SL (male/unsexed) and 124
cm SL (female). The maximum recorded weight and age is 14.0 kg and 15
years respectively. Resilience is low, with a minimum population doubling
time of 4.5 - 14 years. Its fisheries importance is highly commercial,
especially in aquaculture, and it is also used in game fish as bait. It is
especially valued as a food fish in Southeast Asia.
This species is found in lakes, streams, rivers, swamps and floodplains,
many of which are subject to seasonal drying. The most common habitats
are floodplain swamps and pools where they can survive during the dry
season(s) due to their accessory air breathing organs. Clarias gariepinus
undertake lateral migrations from the larger water bodies, in which they
feed and mature at about the age of 12 months, to temporarily flooded
marginal areas in order to breed. These reproductive migrations typically
take place shortly after the onset of the rainy season(s). The final gonadal
maturation is associated with rising water levels. Under stable
environmental conditions, adult C. gariepinus have mature gonads year-
round. Under ideal conditions, a ripe female may lay about 60 000 eggs/kg.
Prior to mating, males compete aggressively for females with which they
mate in single pairs, the female swishing her tail vigorously to mix the eggs
and sperm and distribute the fertilized eggs. The adhesive eggs stick to
submerged vegetation and hatch in 20–60 hours, depending on
temperature. The yolk sac is absorbed within 3–4 days and the stomach is
fully functional within 5–6 days after onset of exogenous feeding. Sexual
differentiation begins between 10 and 15 days after hatching. Larvae feed
and grow rapidly in the warm (usually >24 °C) nutrient rich floodplains,
reaching 3-7 g within 30 days. As flooded marginal areas dry up with the
end of the rains, juveniles and adults make their way back to deeper water.
In areas with two rainy seasons, there are usually two reproductive peaks
during the year, corresponding in intensity to the magnitude of the rains.
Carp are mainly bottom dwellers but search for food in the middle
and upper layers of the water body. Typical 'carp ponds' in Europe are
shallow, eutrophic ponds with a muddy bottom and dense aquatic
vegetation at the dikes.The ecological spectrum of carp is broad. Best
growth is obtained when water temperature ranges between 23 °C and 30
°C. The fish can survive cold winter periods. Salinity up to about 5‰ is
tolerated. The optimal pH range is 6.5-9.0. The species can survive low
oxygen concentration (0.3-0.5 mg/litre) as well as supersaturation. Carp are
omnivorous, with a high tendency towards the consumption of animal
food, such as water insects, larvae of insects, worms, molluscs, and
zooplankton. Zooplankton consumption is dominant in fish ponds where the
stocking density is high. Additionally, the carp consumes the stalks, leaves
and seeds of aquatic and terrestrial plants, decayed aquatic plants, etc.
The pond farming of carp is based on the ability of the species to accept
and utilize cereals supplied by the farmers. The daily growth of carp can be
2 to 4 percent of body weigh. Carps can reach 0.6 to 1.0 kg body weight
within one season in the polycultural fish ponds of subtropical/tropical
areas. Growth is much slower in the temperate zone: here the fish reach the
1 to 2 kg body weight after 2 to 4 rearing seasons. In Europe, female carp
need about 11 000 to 12 000 degree-days to reach maturity in the
temperate and subtropical climatic zones. Male carp are matured within a
period that is 25-35 percent shorter. The maturity period of Asian carp strains
is slightly shorter.
Nile Tilapia Body compressed; caudal peduncle depth equal to length. Scales
cycloid. A knoblike protuberance absent on dorsal surface of snout. Upper
FN: Cichlidae jaw length showing no sexual dimorphism. First gill arch with 27 to 33
gillrakers. Lateral line interrupted. Spinous and soft ray parts of dorsal fin
SN: Oreochromis niloticus continuous. Dorsal fin with 16 17 spines and 11 to 15 soft rays. Anal fin with 3
Linnaeus, 1758 spines and 1011 rays. Caudal fin truncated. Colour in spawning season,
pectoral, dorsal and caudal fins becoming reddish; caudal fin with
numerous black bars.
3 common types of Tilapia
1. Nile Tilapia – Orechromis niloticus
2. Blue Tilapia – Oreochromis aureus
3. Mozambique Tilapia – Oreochromis mossabicus
Bighead Carp
The bighead carp has a large, scaleless head, a large mouth, and eyes
FN: Cyprinadae located very low on the head. Adults usually have mottled silver-gray
coloration. It is a large fish; a typical length is 60 cm (2ft), a maximum
SN: Hypophthalmichthys nobilis observed size of 146 cm (4 ft 9 in) and 40 kg (88 lb).
Richardson, 1845
Grouper
Epinephelus coioides
FN: Serranidae
Body elongate, not very compressed; teeth on midside of lower jaw in
SN: Epinephelus sp. 2 rows; nostrils subequal;serrae at corner of preopercle moderately
Bloch, 1793 enlarged; fourth dorsal spine usually longest;membranes of spinous portion
of dorsal fin incised; caudal fin rounded; pelvic fins not reaching anus. Dorsal
rays XI, 13-16; anal rays III,8; pectoral rays 18-20; lateral-line scales 58-65;
anterior lateral-line scales of adults branched; longitudinal scale series 100-
118; scales on body ctenoid except on thorax, abdomen, and a zone
Note: The picture above is one of the grouper specie, above base of anal fin, also narrowing to caudal peduncle; gill rakers 8-10
Orange Spotted Grouper (Hamilton, 1822) Epinephelus + 14-17; pyloric caeca about 50.
coioides
Nile tilapia is a tropical species that prefers to live in shallow water. The lower
and upper lethal temperatures for Nile tilapia are 1112 °C and 42 °C, respectively,
while the preferred temperature ranges from 31 to 36 °C. It is an omnivorous grazer
that feeds on phytoplankton, periphyton, aquatic plants, small invertebrates,
benthic fauna, detritus and bacterial films associated with detritus. Nile tilapia can
filter feed by entrapping suspended particles, including phytoplankton and
bacteria, on mucous in the buccal cavity, although its main source of nutrition is
obtained by surface grazing on periphyton mats. Sexual maturity in ponds is
reached at an age of 56 months. Spawning begins when the water temperature
reaches 24 °C. The breeding process starts when the male establishes a territory,
digs a craterlike spawning nest and guards his territory. The ripe female spawns in
the nest, and immediately after fertilization by the male, collects the eggs into her
mouth and moves off. The female incubates the eggs in her mouth and broods the
fry after hatching until the yolk sac is absorbed. Incubating and brooding is
accomplished in 1 to 2 weeks, depending on temperature. After fry are released,
they may swim back into her mouth if danger threatens. Being a maternal mouth
brooder, the number of eggs per spawn is small in comparison with most other
pond fishes. Egg number is proportional to the body weight of the female. A 100 g
female will produce about 100 eggs per spawn, while a female weighing 6001 000
g can produce 1 000 to 1 500 eggs. The male remains in his territory, guarding the
nest, and is able to fertilize eggs from a succession of females. If there is no cold
period, during which spawning is suppressed, the female may spawn continuously.
While the female is brooding, she eats little or nothing. Nile tilapia can live longer
than 10 years and reach a weight exceeding 5 kg.
Bighead carp is a eurythermic fish, being able to tolerate water
temperatures of 0.5-38 °C. It is a native freshwater fish in China, with a broad
distribution from the drainage areas of the Pearl River in southern China to those of
the Heilongjiang River in the north. It inhabits lakes, rivers and reservoirs. Bighead
carp normally dwell in the upper layer of the water column and prefers high fertility
water with abundant natural food.
Though it has been introduced into many other countries (mainly Asia and
Eastern Europe), very little information is available on the distribution of the species
in natural water bodies in those countries. However, it has been reported that a
natural population of bighead carp has been found in the Red River in VietNam.
Bighead carp is a synchronous and gonochoristic species that spawns
annually for dozens of years during its life span. There is just one spawning season
in a year, which takes place in early summer. Bighead is a semi-migratory fish.
Broodstock migrate from lakes and the lower reaches of rivers to the spawning
ground in the upper reaches of the major rivers in China in the spawning season.
Flowing water and changes in water level are essential environmental stimuli for
natural spawning. Semi-buoyant eggs are laid that suspend in the water column
when there is a current. Bighead carp can reach sexual maturation in captivity but
cannot spawn naturally under these conditions. Hormone injection and
environmental stimuli such as flowing water are essential for induced spawning. This
species is basically a zooplankton feeder throughout its life under natural
conditions. In culture, bighead carp will also accept artificial feed, such as the by-
products from grain processing and organic detritus, in addition to natural food.
Bighead carp are fast growing and become very large, reaching a maximum
weight of 40 kg.
Epinephelus coioides occurs in the western Indian Ocean from the southern
Red Sea to Natal and east to the western Pacific where it is distributed from Ryukyu
Islands to New South Wales. It ranges east into Oceania only to Palau in the
Northern Hemisphere and Fiji in the Southern. Orange-spotted groupers inhabit
turbid coastal reefs and are often found in brackishwater over mud and rubble.
Juveniles are common in the shallow waters of estuaries over sand, mud and gravel
and among mangroves, feeding on small fish, shrimp, and crabs. E. coioides are
eurythermal and euryhaline. The major spawning period is March to June. Females
mature at 250-300 mm TL at an age of 2-3 years; sexual transition occurs at a total
length of 550-750 mm. Fecundity estimates varied from 850 186 ova in a 350 mm TL
fish to 2 904 912 ova for one of 620 mm TL. Eggs are pelagic; best survival of larvae
is attained at 30 °C and 30 ‰. Successful artificial propagation of E. coioides has
been reported in Malaysia. They probably spawn during restricted periods and
form aggregations when doing so and the eggs and early larvae are probably
pelagic.
Seabass (a.k.a. Barramundi) Body elongate, compressed, with a deep caudal peduncle.
Head pointed, with concave dorsal profile becoming convex in
FN: Latidae front of dorsal fin. Mouth large, slightly oblique, upper jaw reaching
SN: Lates calcarifer to behind eye; teeth villiform, no canines present. Lower edge of
Bloch, 1790 pre-operculum with a strong spine; operculum with a small spine
and with a serrated flap above origin of lateral line. Lower first gill
arch with 16 to 17 gillrakers. Scales large, ctenoid. Dorsal fin with 7
to 9 spines and 10 to 11 soft rays; a very deep notch almost dividing
spiny from soft part of fin; pectoral fin short and rounded, several
short, strong serrations above its base; dorsal and anal fins both
have scaly sheaths. Anal fin rounded, with 3 spines and 7 to 8 short
rays. Caudal fin rounded. Colour in two phases, either olive brown
above with silver sides and belly (usually juveniles) or green/blue
above and silver below. No spots or bars present on fins or body
Mangrove Snapper
Lutjanus griseus
FN: Lutjanidae
Its color is typically greyish red, but it can change color from
SN: Lutjanus sp.
brighter red to copper red. It has a dark stripe running across its
eye if observed from the top when it is under water. This species
can reach a length of 89 cm (35 in), though most do not exceed
40 cm (16 in). the greatest recorded weight for this species is 20kg
(44 lb).
Note: The picture above is one of the mangrove snapper
specie, Gray Snapper (Linnaeus, 1758) Lutjanus griseus
Rabbitfish (a.k.a. Spinefoot)
All rabbitfish have large, dark eyes and small, somewhat rabbit-
FN: Siganidae like mouths, which gives them their name. most species have either
SN: Siganus sp. bright colors or a complex pattern. The largest rabbitfish grows to
about 53 cm (21 in), but most species only reach between 25 and
Forsskal, 1775 35 cm ( 9.8 and 13.8 in)
Another unusual feature among rabbitfishes is their pelvic fins,
which are formed from two spines, with three soft rays between
them. The dorsal fin bears 13 spines with 10 rays behind, while the
anal fin has seven spines and nine rays behind; the fin spines are
equipped with well-developed glands.
Note: The picture above is one of the rabbitfish specie ,
Orange-spotted Spinefoot (Bloch, 1787) Siganus guttatus
Giant Trevally The giant trevally is distinguished by its steep head profile, strong
tail scutes, and a variety of other more detailed anatomical
FN: Caranginadae features. It is normally a silvery colour with occasional dark spots,
SN: Caranx ignobilis but males may be black once they mature. It is the largest fish in
the genus Caranx, growing to maximum known size of 170 cm (67
Forsskal, 1775
in) and a weight of 80 kg (176 lbs). specimens this size are very rare,
with the species only occasionally seen at lengths greater than 80
cm. it appears the Hawaiian Islands contain the largest fish, where
individuals over 100 lbs are common. Elsewhere in the world only
three individuals over 100 lbs have been reported to the IGFA
(International Game Fish Association).
Barramundi inhabit freshwater, brackish and marine habitats including
streams, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters. Barramundi are opportunistic
predators; crustaceans and fish predominate in the diet of adults. Spawning occurs
near river mouths, in the lower reaches of estuaries, or around coastal headlands.
Barramundi spawn after the full and new moons during the spawning season, and
spawning activity is usually associated with incoming tides that apparently assist
transport of eggs and larvae into the estuary. Barramundi are highly fecund; a
single female (120 cm TL) may produce 30–40 million eggs. Larvae recruit into
estuarine nursery swamps where they remain for several months before they move
out into the freshwater reaches of coastal rivers and creeks. Juvenile barramundi
remain in freshwater habitats until they are three–four years of age (60–70 cm TL)
when they reach sexual maturity as males, and then move downstream during the
breeding season to participate in spawning. Because barramundi are euryhaline,
they can be cultured in a range of salinities, from fresh to seawater. When they are
six–eight years old (85–100 cm TL),
Australian barramundi change sex to female and remain female for the rest
of their lives. Sex change in Asian populations of this species is less well defined and
primary females are common. Although some barramundi have been recorded as
undertaking extensive movements between river systems, most of them remain in
their original river system and move only short distances.
The mangrove grey snapper is one of the most common species of snapper in
warmer regions. It can be found in many areas from canals to grass flats, as well as
in open water. Most mangrove snapper in the open water are generally found
near bottom structure or reefs. They can be found at depths from 5 to 180 cm (16
to 591 ft) through are mostly found at less than 50 (160ft).
All rabbitfish are diurnal; some live in schools, while others live more
solitary lives among the corals. They are herbivorous, feeding on benthic
algae in the wild. However, Siganus rivulatus was recently observed
feeding on jellyfish in the red sea. Also Siganus fuscescens have been
observed eating prawns and other baits, suggesting that some species
are opportunistic omnivorous feeders. They are pelagic spawners. Many
are fished for food, and the more colorful species – especially the foxfish
– are often kept in aquaria.
The giant trevally inhabits a very wide range of offshore and inshore
marine environments, with the species also known to tolerate the low salinity
waters of estuaries and rivers. It is a semi-pelagic fish known to spend time
throughout the water column, but is mostly demersal in nature. The species is
common in shallow coastal waters in a number of environments, including
coral and rocky reefs and shorefaces, lagoons, embayments, tidal flats and
channels. They commonly move between reef patches, often overlarge
expanses of deeper sand and mus bottoms between the reefs. Older
individuals tend to move to deeper seaward reefs, bomboras (large sea
waves) and drop-offs away from the protection of fringing reefs, often to
depths greater than 80m. Large individuals, however, often, return to these
shallower water as they patrol their ranges , often to hunt or reproduce.
Mudcrab Carapace smooth, with strong transversal ridges. Gastric zone on the The preferred habitat of mud crabs is mangrove forests or swamps, typically
carapace with a deep Hshaped groove. Front with 4 broad lobes, all more or associated with sheltered tropical to subtropical estuaries and embayment.
FN: Portunidae less in line with each other; 9 broad teeth on each anterolateral margin, all Mangrove vegetation is important to mud crabs as it provides both habitat and food
them with similar size and projecting obliquely outwards. Strong chelipeds with supply. Mud crabs, like most intertidal organisms, respond to key factors in their
SN: Scylla serrata well developed spines on the outer surface of carpus and on the anterior and environment such as temperature and salinity, constantly modifying their metabolic
Forskall , 1775 posterior dorsal parts of propodus. Carapace green to almost black with legs functions such as respiration and excretion in efforts to maintain homeostasis. Their
that may be marbled. molt cycle is another important driver of internal metabolic processes. The salinity
tolerance of mud crabs enables them to survive in freshwater for a few hours and
SEXES of Mudcrab hypersaline conditions for extended periods, while their ability to breathe air enables
them to utilize their habitat effectively even at low tide and leave water that has a
Male low oxygen level.
Mud crabs can be found in a variety of microhabitats around mangrove forests.
However, burrows into the mud, commonly at approximately 30o to the horizontal
are often used as refuges for sub-adult and adult crabs. Reported densities of mud
Juvenile Female (a.k.a. “baklang alimango”) crabs per hectare of mangrove area vary from lows of 4–80 through to over 1 000.
However, the lower numbers reported appear to have been based only on the
collection of large crabs from size-selective traps that provided biased samples,
whereas other higher estimates of total densities have included multiple collecting
Female methods and have sampled crabs of all sizes. In addition, if pots used to sample mud
crabs are not cleared regularly, a population of large crabs can be significantly
underestimated, with catches from regularly cleared traps (every 2 hours) producing
up to 400 percent higher catches than traps cleared once a day.
Whiteshrimp (a.k.a. Whiteleg Shrimp) Whiteleg shrimp grows to a maximum length of 230 mm (9.1 inc), with a The whiteleg shrimp is native to the Eastern Pacific coast from Sonora, Mexico in
carapace length of 90mm (3.5in). adults live in the ocean, at depths of up to the North, through Central and South America as far South as Tumbes in Peru, in
FN: Penaeidae 72 meters (236 ft), while juveniles live in estuaries. The rostrum is moderately areas where water temperatures are normally >20 °C throughout the year. Penaeus
long, with 7-10 teeth on the dorsal side and 2-4 teeth on the ventral side. vannamei live in tropical marine habitats. Adults live and spawn in the open ocean,
SN: Litopenaues vannamei (Penaues vannamei) while postlarvae migrate inshore to spend their juvenile, adolescent and sub-adult
Boone, 1931 Basic Anatomy of shrimp/prawn. stages in coastal estuaries, lagoons or mangrove areas. Males become mature from
20 g and females from 28 g onwards at the age of 6–7 months. P. vannamei
weighing 30–45 g will spawn 100 000–250 000 eggs of approximately 0.22 mm in
diameter. Hatching occurs about 16 hours after spawning and fertilization. The first
stage larvae, termed nauplii, swim intermittently and are positively phototactic.
Nauplii do not feed, but live on their yolk reserves. The next larval stages (protozoea,
mysis and early postlarvae respectively) remain planktonic for some time, eat
phytoplankton and zooplankton, and are carried towards the shore by tidal
currents. The postlarvae (PL) change their planktonic habit about 5 days after
moulting into PL, move inshore and begin feeding on benthic detritus, worms,
bivalves and crustaceans.
Penaeus monodon mature and breed only in tropical marine habitats and spend their
Giant Tiger Prawn Females can reach about 33cm (13in) long, but are typically 25-30cm (10- larval,juvenile, adolescent and sub-adult stages in coastal estuaries, lagoons or mangrove
FN: Penaeidae 12 in) long and weight 200-300 g (7-12oz); males are slightly smaller at 20-25cm areas. In the wild, they show marked nocturnal activity, burrowing into bottom substratum
(8-10 in) long and weighing 100-170g (3.5 – 6.0 oz). The carapace and during the dayand emerging at night to search for food as benthic feeders. Under natural
SN: Penaues monodon abdomen are transversely banded with alternative red and white. The conditions, the giant tiger prawn is more of a predator than an omnivorous scavenger or
detritus feeder than otherpenaeid shrimp. After moulting, the new shell is still soft which
Fabricus, 1798 antennae are grayish brown. Brown preriopods and pleopods are present with
causes prawns to become vulnerable and they may subsequently be eaten by their
fringing setae in red.
predators or companions. Adults are often found over muddy sand or sandy bottoms at
20-50 m depth in offshore waters. Wild males possess spermatozoa from around 35 g body
weight and females becomes gravid from 70 g. Mating occurs at night, shortly after
moulting while the cuticle is still soft, and sperm are subsequently kept in a spermatophore
(sac) inserted inside the closed thelycum of the female. There are five stages in ovarian
maturation; undeveloped, developing; nearly ripe; ripe; and spent. P. monodon females
are highly fecund with gravid females producing as many as 500 000 to 750 000 eggs.
Spawning occurs at night and fertilization is external with females suddenly extruding sperm
from the thelycum as eggs are laid in offshore waters. Hatching occurs 12-15 hours after
fertilization. The larvae, termed nauplii, are free swimming and resemble tiny aquatic
spiders. This first stage in larval development does not feed but lives on its yolk reserve and
passes rapidly through six moults. The next larval stages [protozoea, mysis and early
postlarvae (PL) respectively] remain planktonic for some time and are carried towards the
shore by tidal currents. Protozoea, which have feathery appendages and elongated
bodies, moult three times and then metamorphose into the mysis stage. Mysis, which have
segmented bodies, eyestalk and tails characteristic of adult shrimp, also moult three times
before metamorphosing into PL with similar characteristics to adult shrimp. The PL
subsequently change their habit to feed on benthic detritus, polychaete worms and small
crustaceans after PL 6. Juvenile and adolescent stages can tolerate salinity conditions as
low as 1-2%.