Japanese butterfish
Encyclopedia
The Japanese
butterfish (Psenopsis anomala) is a marine fish also known by such names as Melon Seed, Wart Perch, Ibodai (Japanese
name) or simply as Butterfish.
This fish, which is about a foot or so in length, is found in the Western Pacific, near Japan
, in the Taiwan Strait
and in the East China Sea
. The Japanese butterfish prefers tropical waters: around 32°N–23°N. It has been found in the waters near Hong Kong
. Japanese butterfish live and feed near the bottom as well as in midwaters or near the surface. Generally they inhabit the epipelagic layer to 370 m. Adults are mainly bottom-dwelling but migrate upward at night in search of food.
The Japanese butterfish has a compressed body, somewhat oval-shaped, and is whitish to grayish in colour; in the young fish, the colour is darker: a pale brown or blackish brown. Some other features of this fish are a robust snout, a relatively small mouth, and the upper jaw extending to below anterior margin of eye. The fish's teeth are small, conical, and incisor-like. Spines of the Japanese butterfish's dorsal fin are short and not separated from the soft-rayed portion. The scales on the body of the butterfish are small, cycloid, and very deciduous (meaning that they are shed off easily).
This species is of economic importance, commercially sought after, and caught by trawl by Japan
ese and Taiwanese
fishermen. The total catch reported for this species in 1999 was 10,871 t, with Taiwan (Republic of China
) (5,075 t), and Japan (4,996 t) making up nearly all the catch.
The meat of the Japanese butterfish is very popular as food in its native range. It is said to be a tasty fish that can be steamed, pan-fried, or used in sushi
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
butterfish (Psenopsis anomala) is a marine fish also known by such names as Melon Seed, Wart Perch, Ibodai (Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
name) or simply as Butterfish.
This fish, which is about a foot or so in length, is found in the Western Pacific, near Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, in the Taiwan Strait
Taiwan Strait
The Taiwan Strait or Formosa Strait, formerly known as the Black Ditch, is a 180-km-wide strait separating Mainland China and Taiwan. The strait is part of the South China Sea and connects to East China Sea to the northeast...
and in the East China Sea
East China Sea
The East China Sea is a marginal sea east of China. It is a part of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of 1,249,000 km² or 750,000 square miles.-Geography:...
. The Japanese butterfish prefers tropical waters: around 32°N–23°N. It has been found in the waters near Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Japanese butterfish live and feed near the bottom as well as in midwaters or near the surface. Generally they inhabit the epipelagic layer to 370 m. Adults are mainly bottom-dwelling but migrate upward at night in search of food.
The Japanese butterfish has a compressed body, somewhat oval-shaped, and is whitish to grayish in colour; in the young fish, the colour is darker: a pale brown or blackish brown. Some other features of this fish are a robust snout, a relatively small mouth, and the upper jaw extending to below anterior margin of eye. The fish's teeth are small, conical, and incisor-like. Spines of the Japanese butterfish's dorsal fin are short and not separated from the soft-rayed portion. The scales on the body of the butterfish are small, cycloid, and very deciduous (meaning that they are shed off easily).
This species is of economic importance, commercially sought after, and caught by trawl by Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese and Taiwanese
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
fishermen. The total catch reported for this species in 1999 was 10,871 t, with Taiwan (Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
) (5,075 t), and Japan (4,996 t) making up nearly all the catch.
The meat of the Japanese butterfish is very popular as food in its native range. It is said to be a tasty fish that can be steamed, pan-fried, or used in sushi
Sushi
is a Japanese food consisting of cooked vinegared rice combined with other ingredients . Neta and forms of sushi presentation vary, but the ingredient which all sushi have in common is shari...
.