# Panga

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Species of fish

For other uses, see [Panga (disambiguation)](/source/Panga_(disambiguation)).

Panga Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Acanthuriformes Family: Sparidae Genus: Pterogymnus J. L. B. Smith, 1938 Species: P. laniarius Binomial name Pterogymnus laniarius (Valenciennes, 1830) Synonyms[2] Pagrus laniarius Valenciennes, 1830 Chrysophrys laniarius Valenciennes, 1830

The **panga** (***Pterogymnus laniarius***), or **panga seabream** is a species of marine [ray-finned fish](/source/Actinopterygii) belonging to the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Sparidae](/source/Sparidae), which includes the seabreams and porgies. It is the only species in the [monospecific genus](/source/Monospecific_genus) ***Pterogymnus***. This species is [endemic](/source/Endemism) to the coasts of South Africa. The panga is an important species in commercial line fisheries off South Africa.

## Taxonomy

The panga was first formally [described](/source/Species_description) as *Pagrus laniarius* in 1830 by the French [zoologist](/source/Zoologist) [Achille Valenciennes](/source/Achille_Valenciennes) in volume 6 of *[Histoire naturelle des poissons](/source/Histoire_naturelle_des_poissons)*, its [type locality](/source/Type_locality_(biology)) was given as the [Cape of Good Hope](/source/Cape_of_Good_Hope) in South Africa.[3] In 1938 [James Leonard Brierley Smith](/source/James_Leonard_Brierley_Smith) reclassified this species in the monospecific genus *Pterogymnus*.[4] This taxon 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)*.[5] Some authorities classify this genus in the subfamily Sparinae,[6] but the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise subfamilies within the Sparidae.[5]

## Etymology

The panga has the genus name *Pterogymnus* which combines *ptero*, meaning "fin", and *gymnus*, meaning "naked", a reference to the lack of scales on the soft rayed parts of the [dorsal](/source/Dorsal_fin) and [anal fins](/source/Anal_fin), when compared to *[Cymatoceps](/source/Black_musselcracker)*. The [specific name](/source/Specific_name_(zoology)), *laniarius*, means "butcher" or "pertaining to butchers", an allusion Valenciennes did not explain.[7]

## Description

For sale at a [fish market](/source/Fish_market) in [Pretoria](/source/Pretoria)

The panga has the area between the eyes and the flange on the [preoperculum](/source/Preoperculum) scaled. The lower jaw has 2 rows of [molar-like](/source/Molar_(tooth)) teeth. The [dorsal fin](/source/Dorsal_fin) has 12 spines and 10 soft rays while the [anal fin](/source/Anal_fin) has 3 spines and 8 soft rays. There is a scaly sheath at the base of the soft rayed parts of both the dorsal and anal fin but no scales on the soft rayed part of these fins. The compressed body is ovoid in shape with a depth that fits into its [standard length](/source/Standard_length) 2.3 to 2.5 times. The dorsal profile of the head is smoothly convex and the eye is large with the rear edge of the preorbital bone having a wave-like shape and is not covered by the scales of the cheek. The overall colour of the body is red or pink, lighter in colour on the lower body, with 5 or 6 indistinct bluish, horizontal lines underneath the [lateral line](/source/Lateral_line).[8] This species has a maximum [total length](/source/Total_length) of 45 cm (18 in), although 27 cm (11 in) is more typical.[2]

## Distribution and habitat

The panga is endemic to South Africa where it occurs in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean in [False Bay](/source/False_Bay) in the [Western Cape](/source/Western_Cape) to [Beira, Mozambique](/source/Beira%2C_Mozambique) in the southwestern Indian Ocean.[8] This species is found mostly on deep, low. topographically complex reefs and sometimes over areas of mud and sand as deep as 120 m (390 ft).[1]

## Biology

The panga is a predatory species in which the adults feed on benthic invertebrates, mainly [crabs](/source/Crab) with [polychaetes](/source/Polychaete), [brittle stars](/source/Brittle_star) and fishes less important as prey. The juveniles feed largely on [mysids](/source/Mysida). This species is a rudimentary hermaphrodite. i.e. the gonads contain both male and female reproductive tissue but is a late [gonochorist](/source/Gonochorism) in which sexual maturity is attained at around 4 or 5 years old. They spawn mainly at the [Agulhas Bank](/source/Agulhas_Bank) and spawning occurs throughout the year.[1]

## Fisheries

The panga is an important species for the offshore commercial line fishery in the southern [Eastern Cape](/source/Eastern_Cape) where it made up 16.5% of the total landings from 1985 to 2007. It is also an important part of the South African demersal inshore trawl fishery where it made up 63% of the landings between 1992 and 1995 and 11% of the landing from the demersal deep sea trawl fishery in the southern Eastern Cape and Western Cape.[9]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-iucn_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-iucn_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-iucn_1-2) Mann, B.Q.; Buxton, C.D.; Russell, B.; Pollard, D. & [Carpenter, K.E.](/source/Kent_E._Carpenter) (2014). ["*Pterogymnus laniarius*"](https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/170213/1294378). *[IUCN Red List of Threatened Species](/source/IUCN_Red_List)*. **2014** e.T170213A1294378. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T170213A1294378.en](https://doi.org/10.2305%2FIUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T170213A1294378.en). Retrieved 20 November 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Fishbase_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Fishbase_2-1) [Froese, Rainer](/source/Rainer_Froese); [Pauly, Daniel](/source/Daniel_Pauly) (eds.). ["*Pterogymnus laniarius*"](https://www.fishbase.org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Pterogymnus&speciesname=laniarius). *[FishBase](/source/FishBase)*. February 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 *Pterogymnus*"](http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatget.asp?tbl=species&genus=Pterogymnus). *[Catalog of Fishes](/source/Catalog_of_Fishes)*. [California Academy of Sciences](/source/California_Academy_of_Sciences). Retrieved 14 February 2024.

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 14 February 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Nelson5_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Nelson5_5-1) [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_6-0)** 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_7-0)** Christopher Scharpf (12 January 2024). ["Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 6): Families GERREIDAE, LETHRINIDAE, NEMIPTERIDAE and SPARIDAE"](https://etyfish.org/acanthuriformes6/). *The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database*. Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 14 February 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WIOF_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WIOF_8-1) 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).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-SANBI_9-0)** ["*Pterogymnus laniarius* Valenciennes, 1830"](http://speciesstatus.sanbi.org/assessment/last-assessment/2933/). *South African Red Species List*. [South African National Biodiversity Institute](/source/South_African_National_Biodiversity_Institute). December 2009. Retrieved 14 February 2024.

- ["Pterogymnus laniarius"](https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=647974). [Integrated Taxonomic Information System](/source/Integrated_Taxonomic_Information_System). Retrieved 19 March 2006.

## External links

- [FAO's Species Fact Sheet about *Megalaspis cordyla*](http://www.fao.org:80/fi/website/FIRetrieveAction.do?dom=species&fid=3123)

Taxon identifiers Pterogymnus laniarius Wikidata: Q784460 BOLD: 86870 CoL: 6WKMD FishBase: 448 GBIF: 5210988 iNaturalist: 446437 IRMNG: 11240347 ITIS: 647974 IUCN: 170213 NCBI: 119742 OBIS: 218619 WoRMS: 218619 Pterogymnus Wikidata: Q17152843 Wikispecies: Pterogymnus BOLD: 86869 CoL: 74R8 GBIF: 2392518 iNaturalist: 91552 ITIS: 647876 NCBI: 119741 Open Tree of Life: 321034 WoRMS: 204871

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