{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | image = Wikimania 2018, Cape Town (P1050677) (cropped).jpg | status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn">{{Cite iucn | author = Mann, B.Q. | author2 = Buxton, C.D. | author3 = Carpenter, K.E. | name-list-style = amp | title = ''Cymatoceps nasutus'' | article-number = e.T170204A1292756 | year = 2014 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T170204A1292756.en | access-date = 9 January 2018| doi-access = free }}</ref> | taxon = Cymatoceps nasutus | parent_authority = [[J. L. B. Smith|Smith]], 1938<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=J. L. B. |title=The South African Fishes of the Families Sparidae and Denticidae |journal=Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa |date=1938 |volume=26 |issue=3 |doi=10.1080/00359193809519774 |at=pp. 259–261, Pl. XX, XXV.}}</ref> | authority = ([[Francis de Laporte de Castelnau|Castelnau]], 1861) | synonyms_ref = <ref name=fishbase/> | synonyms = {{species list | Chrysophrys nasutus | Castelnau, 1861<ref>{{cite book |last1=Castelnau |first1=F. de |title=Mémoire sur les poissons de l'Afrique australe |date=1861 |publisher=J.-B. Baillière |location=Paris |pages=24–25 |chapter-url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1722768 |chapter=Sparoïdes}}</ref> | Pagrus nigripinnis | [[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger]], 1903<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Boulenger |first1=G. A. |title=Descriptions of Six new Perciform Fishes from the Coast of Natal |journal=Annals of the South African Museum |date=1903 |publication-date=April 9, 1903|volume=3 |issue=3 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1510484 |at=p. 67, [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1510496 Pl. VII]}}</ref>}} }}
The '''black musselcracker''' ('''''Cymatoceps nasutus''''') is a species of marine [[ray-finned fish]] belonging to the [[Family (taxonomy)|family]] [[Sparidae]], which includes the seabreams and porgies. This species is the only species in the [[monospecific genus]] '''''Cymatoceps'''''. It is [[Endemism|endemic]] to South Africa.
==Taxonomy== The black musselcracker was first formally [[Species description|described]] as ''Chrysophrys nasutus'' in 1861 by the French [[naturalist]] [[Francis de Laporte de Castelnau]] with its [[Type locality (biology)|type locality]] given as [[Table Bay]] near [[Cape Town]] in South Africa.<ref name = CofF>{{Cof genus|genus=Cymatoceps|access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref> In 1938 [[James Leonard Brierley Smith]] reclassified this species in the [[Monotypic taxon|monotypic]] genus ''Cymatoceps''.<ref name = CofF2>{{Cof family|family=Sparidae|access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref> This [[taxon]] is placed in the family Sparidae within the [[Order (biology)|order]] [[Spariformes]] by the 5th edition of ''[[Fishes of the World]]''.<ref name = Nelson5>{{cite book |author1=Nelson, J.S. |author1-link=Joseph S. Nelson |author2=Grande, T.C. |author3=Wilson, M.V.H. |year=2016 |title=Fishes of the World |edition=5th |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |place=Hoboken, NJ |pages=502–506 |isbn=978-1-118-34233-6 |lccn=2015037522 |oclc=951899884 |ol=25909650M |doi=10.1002/9781119174844}}</ref> Some authorities classify this genus in the subfamily Sparinae,<ref name = Parenti>{{cite journal |author= Parenti, P. |year=2019 |title=An annotated checklist of the fishes of the family Sparidae |journal=FishTaxa |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=47–98 |url= https://fishtaxa.com/menuscript/index.php/ft/article/view/49/52}}</ref> but the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise subfamilies within the Sparidae.<ref name = Nelson5/>
==Etymology== The black musselcracker has the [[Generic name (biology)|generic name]] ''Cymatoceps'' which is a combination of ''cymatos'', meaning "swelling" or "bump", and ''ceps'', meaning "head". This was not explained by Castelnau but it is thought to be an allusion to the large fleshy, protuberance on the snouts of the larger adults. The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]] ''nasutus'' means "large-nosed", also a reference to the large fleshy, protuberance on the snout.<ref name = ETYFish>{{cite web |url=https://etyfish.org/spariformes/ |title=Order SPARIFORMES: Families LETHRINIDAE, NEMIPTERIDAE and SPARIDAE |work=The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database |access-date=15 January 2024 |date=22 December 2023 |publisher=Christopher Scharpf |archive-date=30 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030165034/https://etyfish.org/spariformes/ }}</ref>
==Description== [[File:Cymatoceps nasutus.jpg|right|frameless]] The black musselcracker is distinguished from other genera in the Sparidae by having scales on the area between the eyes and on the bases of the soft rayed parts of the [[dorsal fin|dorsal]] and [[anal fin]]s. The flange on the [[preoperculum]] is partially covered with scales. The dorsal fin is supported by 12 spines and 10 soft rays while the anal fin is supported by 3 spines and 9 soft rays. The body is moderately deep and compressed, its [[standard length]] being between 2.3 and 2.5 times its depth. The dorsal profile of the head is gently sloping but in large adults develop a fleshy process on the snout and a hump before the eyes. The scales are ctenoid, larger below the [[lateral line]] than above it. The overall colour of adults is dull dark grey with the chin and belly being bright white> The juveniles are dark greenish brown in colour on the body with irregular white mottling.<ref name = WIOF>{{cite book |author=Yukio Iwatsuki |author2=Phillip C Heemstra |name-list-style=and |chapter=Family Sparidae |pages=284–315 |title=Coastal Fishes of the Western Indian Ocean |volume=3 |editor1=[[Phil Heemstra|Phillip C Heemstra]] |editor2=Elaine Heemstra |editor3=David A Ebert |editor4=Wouter Holleman |editor5=[[John Ernest Randall|John E Randall]] |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-990951-32-9 |publisher=South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity |url=https://saiab.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1._wiof_volume_3_text.pdf}}</ref> This species has a maximum published [[total length]] of {{cvt|150|cm}} and a maximum published weight of {{cvt|34.4|kg}}.<ref name = fishbase/>
==Distribution and habitat== The black musselcracker is endemic to South Africa where it is found from northern [[KwaZulu-Natal]] to [[False Bay]].<ref name = WIOF/> It has been reported from [[Maputo Bay]] in Mozambique but it is unknown from line or trap fisheries in [[Maputo]].<ref name = iucn/> It is found at depths between {{cvt|1|and|80|m}} and occurs in shallow rocky areas, rarely entering estuaries.<ref name = fishbase/>
==Biology== [[File:Cymatoceps nasutus 15696336.jpg|thumb|Juvenile]] Black musselcrackers are solitary and have been recorded preying on a wide variety of prey, mainly [[Mollusca|mollusc]]s, [[crustacean]]s, and [[echinoderm]]s as adults. The adults are found on deeper topographically varied reefs in both inshore and offshore waters. The juveniles prefer shallower reefs, just below the low tide mark at depths of less than {{cvt|10|m}}. Tagging studies have revealed that both juveniles and sub-adults are very sedentary and, that the limited data obtained on the movements of larger adults suggests that there is an easterly movement up the South African coast. Studies of the [[otolith]]s of this species show that it grows slowly and has a long life, with 45.5 years being the age of the oldest fish recorded.<ref name = iucn/>
This species is thought to be a [[protogynous hermaphrodite]] and, off the [[Eastern Cape]], [[Spawn (biology)|spawning]] occurs between May and October. Sexually mature adults are not found in the [[Western Cape]] suggests that the adults move east to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. The smallest females found which was reproductively active had a [[fork length]] of {{cvt|53|cm}} and the age at which 50% of the fish are sexually mature is thought to be 10 years old. They are thought to change sex from female to male at a fork length of {{cvt|70|cm}}, around 18 years of age, and fish with fork lengths in excess of {{cvt|95|cm}} are all male.<ref name = iucn/>
==Fisheries and conservation== The black musselcracker is a popular sport fish in South Africa.<ref name = fishbase>{{FishBase|Cymatoceps|nasutus|month=October|year=2023}}</ref> Because it is eagerly sought after, this species experiences a lot of over harvesting, which diminishes its chances of a stable population.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Unsustainable fishing, case study of Africans Black Musselcracker endangered species • Ocean 4 Future|url=http://www.ocean4future.org/archives/2446|last1=da|first1=Scritto|last2=Mucedola|first2=rea|date=2017-06-22|website=Ocean 4 Future|language=it-IT|access-date=2020-05-01}}</ref> The reason that black musselcracker is vulnerable to over harvesting is mainly because they have a slow growth rate, which means that they are most likely being harvested before they are old enough to reproduce.<ref name=":0" />
As a result of over harvesting the black musselcracker, there are now fishing regulations to protect this species. The primary rule is that each fisherman is allowed only one fish, minimum length of 50 centimeters, per day.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Good Catch! Biggest Black Mussel Cracker Caught · Fishing Industry News SA|url=https://www.fishingindustrynewssa.com/2019/07/25/black-musselcracker-caught-biggest-catch-ever/|last=reporter|first=FINSA|date=2019-07-25|website=Fishing Industry News SA|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-01}}</ref> Because of these new regulations, in some regions of South Africa, black musselcracker populations are on the rise.<ref name=":1" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{ITIS|id=647867|taxon=''Cymatoceps'' Smith, 1938 }} * {{WRMS|206300|Cymatoceps|Smith, 1938 }} * {{NCBI taxid|119709|''Cymatoceps'' }} * {{ITIS|id=647933|taxon=''Cymatoceps nasutus'' (Castelnau, 1861) }} * {{NCBI taxid|119710|''Cymatoceps nasutus'' }}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1409436}}
[[Category:Sparidae]] [[Category:Taxa named by François-Louis Laporte, comte de Castelnau]] [[Category:Fish described in 1861]]