A new record of two croaker fish (family: Sciaenidae) from the Iraqi marine waters

摘要

The first record of two Sciaenid fish Johnius amblycephalus (Bleeker, 1855) and Nibea maculata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) is reported from the Iraqi marine waters, northwest of the Arabian Gulf. Total length of J. amblycephalus ranged between 216 to 230 mm, whilst the length of N. maculate ranged from 200 to 210 mm. The bearded croaker (J. amblycephalus) could be distinguished by blunt barbel on chin, second and third spine in first dorsal fin is elongate and gill rakers eight on lower limb of first gill arch. While The blotched croaker (N. maculate) characterized by five dark bars extending obliquely on the body, gill rakers 10 on lower limb of first gill arch and the second part of dorsal fin contains 22-23 rays.