# Argyrops spinifer

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Species of fish

Argyrops spinifer Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Acanthuriformes Family: Sparidae Genus: Argyrops Species: A. spinifer Binomial name Argyrops spinifer (Forsskål, 1775) Synonyms[2] Sparus spinifer Forsskål, 1775 Pagrus longifilis Valenciennes, 1830 Pagrus ruber Boulenger, 1888 Pagrus ciliaris von Bonde, 1923 Calamus ciliaris (von Bonde, 1923)

***Argyrops spinifer***, the **king soldierbream**, **Bowen snapper**, **long-spined red bream**, **longfin snapper**, **longspine seabream** and **red bokako**, It is a species of marine [ray-finned fish](/source/Ray-finned_fish) belonging to the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Sparidae](/source/Sparidae). This species is found in the Indian Ocean.

## Taxonomy

*Argyrops spinifer* was first formally [described](/source/Species_description) as *Sparus spinifer* in 1775 by the [Swedish-speaking Finnish](/source/Swedish-speaking_population_of_Finland) [naturalist](/source/Naturalist) and [explorer](/source/Explorer) [Peter Forsskål](/source/Peter_Forssk%C3%A5l) with its [type locality](/source/Type_locality_(biology)) given as [Jeddah](/source/Jeddah) in Saudi Arabia.[3] In 1839 [William Swainson](/source/William_Swainson) proposed a new [monotypic](/source/Monotypic_taxon) [subgenus](/source/Subgenus), *[Argyrops](/source/Argyrops)* of *[Chrysophrys](/source/Chrysophrys)* for this species, so this species is the [type species](/source/Type_species) of the genus *Argyrops*.[4] *[Argyrops bleekeri](/source/Argyrops_bleekeri)* of Australia and the Western Pacific has been considered to be [conspecific](/source/Conspecific) with this species but they are now regarded as valid separate species.[5] This species forms a [species complex](/source/Species_complex) with *[A. flavops](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Argyrops_flavops&action=edit&redlink=1)*, described in 2018 from the [Arabian Sea](/source/Arabian_Sea).[6] The genus *Argyrops* is placed in the family Sparidae within the [order](/source/Order_(biology)) [Spariformes](/source/Spariformes) by the 5th edition of *[Fishes of the World](/source/Fishes_of_the_World)*.[7] Some authorities classify this genus in the subfamily Sparinae,[8] but the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise subfamilies within the Sparidae.[7]

## Etymology

*Argyrops spinifer* has the [specific name](/source/Specific_name_(zoology)) *spinifer*, which means "thorn bearer", which Forsskål did not explain, but it is assumed to refer to the simple, forward pointing first [dorsal fin](/source/Dorsal_fin) spine.[9]

## Description

*Argyrops spinifer* has its dorsal fin supported by between 11 and 13 spines, the first 2 spines being very short[10] and located on the same dorsal [pterygiophore](/source/Pterygiophore), and 9 or 10 soft rays.[2] In this species and *A. flavops* the presence of 4–6 very long and filamentous spines in the dorsal fin, typically the 3rd to 6th or 3rd to 8th, in both juveniles and subadults is a character separating them from other *Argyrops* species.[6] The [anal fin](/source/Anal_fin) has 3 spines and 8 soft rays. This fish has a deep and strongly compressed body which has a [standard length](/source/Standard_length) that is between 1.8 and 2 times its depth. I larger adults, i.e. those with a standard length in excess of 60 cm (24 in) there is a convex growth on the nape. The main colour on the body is silvery pinkish, darker on head and upperbody. The upper [opercular](/source/Operculum_(fish)) margin is typically dark red and all the fins are reddish with the [pelvic](/source/Pelvic_fin) and anal fins being the palest. Juveniles and subadults have a number of red, vertical bars on their bodies.[11] The king soldierbream has a maximum published [total length](/source/Total_length) of 80 cm (31 in) but 30 cm (12 in) is more typical.[2]

## Distribution and habitat

*Argyrops spinifer* is found in the Indian Ocean but its exact distribution is difficult to determine as there are similar species and geographical forms.[1][6] It is found over a variety of depths between 5 and 100 m (16 and 328 ft), with the juveniles and subadults preferring shallower, more protected waters.[11]

## Biology

*Argyrops spinifer* is a predatory species, it largely hunts benthic invertebrates, particularly molluscs.[2] The king soldierbream may be a [protogynous](/source/Protogynous) hermaphrodite. In the Arabian Sea spawning was seen to take place between November and January, just after the end of the [monsoon](/source/Monsoon).[1]

## Fisheries

*Argyrops spinifer* is an important species for recreational and commercial fisheries.[11] They are caught using bottom [trawls](/source/Trawling), [handlines](/source/Handline_fishing) and [fish traps](/source/Fish_trap), it has been studies for its potential in [aquaculture](/source/Aquaculture) in Oman.[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-iucn_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-iucn_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-iucn_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-iucn_1-3) Iwatsuki, Y.; Russell, B.; Carpenter, K.E.; et al. (2014). ["*Argyrops spinifer*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/170238/1299019). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2014** e.T170238A1299019. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T170238A1299019.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T170238A1299019.en). Retrieved 30 December 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Fishbase_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Fishbase_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Fishbase_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Fishbase_2-3) [Froese, Rainer](/source/Rainer_Froese); [Pauly, Daniel](/source/Daniel_Pauly) (eds.). ["*Argyrops spinifer*"](https://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Argyrops&speciesname=spinifer). *[FishBase](/source/FishBase)*. October 2023 version.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CofF_3-0)** Fricke, Ron; [Eschmeyer, William N.](/source/William_N._Eschmeyer) & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). ["Species in the genus *Argyrops*"](http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatget.asp?tbl=species&genus=Argyrops). *[Catalog of Fishes](/source/Catalog_of_Fishes)*. [California Academy of Sciences](/source/California_Academy_of_Sciences). Retrieved 30 December 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-CofF2_4-0)** Fricke, Ron; [Eschmeyer, William N.](/source/William_N._Eschmeyer) & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). ["Genera in the family Sparidae"](http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatget.asp?tbl=genus&family=Sparidae). *[Catalog of Fishes](/source/Catalog_of_Fishes)*. [California Academy of Sciences](/source/California_Academy_of_Sciences). Retrieved 30 December 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FofA_5-0)** Bray, D.J. (2021). ["*Argyrops bleekeri*"](https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/677). *Fishes of Australia*. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 30 December 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-I&H_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-I&H_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-I&H_6-2) Iwatsuki, Yukio; [Phil Heemstra](/source/Phil_Heemstra) (2018). "Taxonomic review of the genus *Argyrops* (Perciformes; Sparidae) with three new species from the Indo-West Pacific". *Zootaxa*. **4438** (3): 401. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.11646/zootaxa.4438.3.1](https://doi.org/10.11646%2Fzootaxa.4438.3.1). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [30313129](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30313129).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Nelson5_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Nelson5_7-1) [Nelson, J.S.](/source/Joseph_S._Nelson); Grande, T.C.; Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). *Fishes of the World* (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: [John Wiley & Sons](/source/John_Wiley_%26_Sons). pp. 502–506. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1002/9781119174844](https://doi.org/10.1002%2F9781119174844). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-118-34233-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-118-34233-6). [LCCN](/source/LCCN_(identifier)) [2015037522](https://lccn.loc.gov/2015037522). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [951899884](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/951899884). [OL](/source/OL_(identifier)) [25909650M](https://openlibrary.org/books/OL25909650M).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Parenti_8-0)** Parenti, P. (2019). ["An annotated checklist of the fishes of the family Sparidae"](https://fishtaxa.com/menuscript/index.php/ft/article/view/49/52). *FishTaxa*. **4** (2): 47–98.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ETYFish_9-0)** ["Order SPARIFORMES: Families LETHRINIDAE, NEMIPTERIDAE and SPARIDAE"](https://web.archive.org/web/20231030165034/https://etyfish.org/spariformes/). *The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database*. Christopher Scharpf. 22 December 2022. Archived from [the original](https://etyfish.org/spariformes/) on 30 October 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [SPARIDAE](https://www.fao.org/4/y0770e/y0770e23.pdf) Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WIOF_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WIOF_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-WIOF_11-2) Yukio Iwatsuki and Phillip C Heemstra (2022). "Family Sparidae". In [Phillip C Heemstra](/source/Phil_Heemstra); Elaine Heemstra; David A Ebert; Wouter Holleman; and [John E Randall](/source/John_Ernest_Randall) (eds.). [*Coastal Fishes of the Western Indian Ocean*](https://saiab.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1._wiof_volume_3_text.pdf) (PDF). Vol. 3. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. pp. 284–315. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-990951-32-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-990951-32-9).

Taxon identifiers Argyrops spinifer Wikidata: Q774392 Wikispecies: Argyrops spinifer AFD: Argyrops_spinifer BOLD: 11705 CoL: GKHB FishBase: 442 GBIF: 5211027 iNaturalist: 364941 IRMNG: 10835845 ITIS: 647918 IUCN: 170238 NCBI: 119684 OBIS: 218590 Open Tree of Life: 889372 TaiCOL: t0056960 WoRMS: 218590

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Argyrops spinifer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyrops_spinifer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyrops_spinifer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.