Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised May 30, 2026

Polydactylus

Polydactylus is a genus of threadfin that mainly are native to the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, especially in coastal or brackish waters. Some may even enter rivers and a single, P. macrophthalmus, is a freshwater fish from rivers in Borneo.

Last revised
May 30, 2026
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≈ 1 min
Length
317 w
Citations
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Polydactylus
Temporal range:
Young Polydactylus plebeius
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Carangiformes
Suborder: Pleuronectoidei
Family: Polynemidae
Genus: Polydactylus
Lacépède, 18031
Type species
Polydactylus plumierii, a synonym of Polydactylus virginicus
Lacepède, 1803

Polydactylus is a genus of threadfin that mainly are native to the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, especially in coastal or brackish waters (such as mangrove or estuaries).23 Some may even enter rivers and a single, P. macrophthalmus, is a freshwater fish from rivers in Borneo.3

Most species do not surpass 72 cm (2.4 ft) in standard length, but two can reach up to 1.7–2 m (5.6–6.6 ft).3

Species

There are currently 21 species in the genus:3

  • Polydactylus approximans (Lay & Bennett, 1839) (Blue bobo)
  • Polydactylus longipes Motomura, Okamoto & Iwatsuki, 2001 (Long-limb threadfin)
  • Polydactylus luparensis Lim, Motomura & Gambang, 2010 (Sarawak giant threadfin)
  • Polydactylus macrochir (Günther, 1867) (King threadfin)
  • Polydactylus macrophthalmus (Bleeker, 1858) (River threadfin)
  • Polydactylus malagasyensis Motomura & Iwatsuki, 2001 (African blackspot threadfin)
  • Polydactylus microstomus (Bleeker, 1851) (Smallmouth threadfin)
  • Polydactylus mullani (Hora, 1926) (Arabian blackspot threadfin)
  • Polydactylus multiradiatus (Günther, 1860) (Australian threadfin)
  • Polydactylus nigripinnis Munro, 1964 (Blackfin threadfin)
  • Polydactylus octonemus (Girard, 1858) (Atlantic threadfin)
  • Polydactylus oligodon (Günther, 1860) (Littlescale threadfin)
  • Polydactylus opercularis Seale & Bean, 1907 (Yellow bobo)
  • Polydactylus persicus Motomura & Iwatsuki, 2001 (Persian blackspot threadfin)
  • Polydactylus quadrifilis (Cuvier, 1829) (Giant African threadfin)
  • Polydactylus sextarius (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Blackspot threadfin)
  • Polydactylus virginicus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Barbu)

The following fossil species are also known:4

References

References

  1. Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Polydactylus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  2. "FAO Fisheries & Aquaculture - Aquatic species".
  3. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Polydactylus". FishBase. May 2017 version.
  4. Bannikov, A. F. (1989). "Neogene dactylopterans (Teleostei, Polynemidae) of the USSR" (PDF). Paleontological Journal. 23 (4): 124–129.