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Chanos chanos (Fabricius, 1775)

Milkfish
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Chanos chanos   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Chanos chanos (Milkfish)
Chanos chanos
Picture by Gomen See@114°E Hong Kong Reef Fish Survey


Madagascar country information

Common names: Fiamandry, Sandry, Vango
Occurrence: native
Salinity: freshwater
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: live export: yes;
Comments: Known from western and northwestern basins, and eastern lowlands (Ref. 56151). Ascends freshwater lakes (Ref. 49) and rivers, including the Onilahy (Ref. 91201) and Mahavavy (Ref. 13296) and lakes Kinkony and Sahapy (Ref. 91225); common in all lakes of the west coast, including those of the Antsalova area and of the rivers Tsiribihina and Miandrivazo (Ref. 13296). Also Ref. 12484, 33390, 56151, 91224, 129076.
National Checklist:
Country Information: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/ma.html
National Fisheries Authority:
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Stiassny, M.L.J. and N. Raminosoa, 1994
National Database:

Common names from other countries

Classification / Names Nombres comunes | Sinónimos | Catalog of Fishes(Género, Especie) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

> Gonorynchiformes (Milkfishes) > Chanidae (Milkfish)
Etymology: Chanos: Greek, chanos, -eos, ous, and chasma, -atos = abyss, mouth opened, inmensity (Ref. 45335).

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecología

marino; agua dulce; salobre bentopelágico; anfidromo (Ref. 51243); rango de profundidad 1 - 30 m (Ref. 6898), usually ? - 15 m (Ref. 89972).   Tropical; 15°C - 43°C (Ref. 43081); 46°N - 52°S, 19°E - 77°W

Distribución Países | Áreas FAO | Ecosistemas | Ocurrencias, apariciones | Point map | Introducciones | Faunafri

Indo-Pacific: 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, south to Victoria, Australia. Eastern Pacific: San Pedro, California to the Galapagos.

Length at first maturity / Tamaño / Peso / Age

Maturity: Lm 86.1, range 68 - 70 cm
Max length : 180 cm SL macho / no sexado; (Ref. 9710); 124.0 cm SL (female); common length : 100.0 cm SL macho / no sexado; (Ref. 9814); peso máximo publicado: 14.0 kg (Ref. 9814); edad máxima reportada: 15 años (Ref. 9814)

Short description Claves de identificación | Morfología | Morfometría

Espinas dorsales (total) : 2; Radios blandos dorsales (total) : 13 - 17; Espinas anales: 2; Radios blandos anales: 8 - 10; Vértebra: 46. This species is characterized by the following: body elongate and somewhat compressed; mouth small and toothless; single dorsal about mid-level of the body; pectoral fins falcate; caudal fin large and deeply forked; no scutes on belly; branchiostegal rays 4. Colour of the body olive green dorsally; flanks silvery; unpaired fins with dark margins (Ref. 49, 117228).

Biología     Glosario (por ej. epibenthic)

Adults are found in offshore marine waters and shallow coastal embayments, but also frequently enter estuaries and occasionally penetrate freshwater streams (Ref. 44894, 52331). They occur in small to large schools near the coasts or around islands where reefs are well developed. Eggs and larvae are pelagic up to 2-3 weeks. Older larvae migrate onshore and settle in coastal wetlands (mangroves, estuaries) during the juvenile stage, or occasionally enter freshwater lakes. Juveniles and sub-adults return to sea where they mature sexually. Mature adults spawn only in fully saline water. Larvae eat zooplankton; juveniles and adults eat cyanobacteria, soft algae, small benthic invertebrates, and even pelagic fish eggs and larvae. Larvae are collected from rivers and are grown in culture ponds into juveniles which are marketed fresh, smoked, canned or frozen. Brood stocks can be raised and spawned in captivity to produce larvae in the hatchery (Ref. 12868). This species can thrive and grow in water as hot as 32° C (Ref. 9987).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturities | Reproducción | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larva

Spawns in clear shallow waters above a bottom of sand or coral and at a distance of not more than 30 km from the shore. Females spawn up to 5 million eggs which hatch in about 24 hr. The larvae seek out clear coastal and estuarine waters warmer than 23°C with 10-32 salinity and abundant phytoplankton. Spawning and fertilization take place at night.

Main reference Upload your references | Referencias | Coordinador | Colaboradores

Bagarinao, T., 1994. Systematics, distribution, genetics and life history of milkfish, Chanos chanos. Environ. Biol. Fishes 39(1):23-41. (Ref. 9814)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

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