Japanese lates
Encyclopedia
The Japanese lates or akame (Lates japonicus) is a rare and shy fish
endemic in Japan
. It has a comparatively long and compressed body and a large mouth. It is a metallic grey in overall colour, with a bluish tint, darker upperparts, and lighter underparts. Its fins are greyish black, and its pupils are red. The Japanese lates was first scientifically described in 1984, having previously been considered the same species as the barramundi
(L. calcarifer). Even when it was realised it was a separate species, publication of a formal description was delayed since the type specimen of the barramundi was alleged to originate in Japan, and because of confusion caused by the deformities of the barramundi's type specimen. The Japanese lates differs from the barramundi in several features. It has a deeper body, longer third dorsal and second anal spines, fewer pectoral fin rays, more scales, and fewer gill rakers. It reaches a maximum length of 130 centimetres (51.2 in) and a maximum weight of 33 kilograms (72.8 lb).
The Japanese lates is a bottom dweller in the freshwater shallows, estuaries
, and the ocean. The Japanese lates is known in the south-western part of the Japanese main islands, where it is found in the seas around Tosa Bay, in Kochi Prefecture
, Shikoku
and near Miyazaki City in Miyazaki Prefecture
, Kyushu. It is believed to spawn there, and younger fish are found up the Ohyodo and Shimanto
rivers. The barramundi is believed to replace it in the Ryukyu Islands
.
The Japanese lates has long been known to fishermen, but because of its relative rarity and shyness, it achieved "almost legendary" status. The Japanese common name, akame, means "red eyes". For some time, scientists were uncertain which fish was the "akame" of legend, and some suspected Psammoperca waigiensis. It is kept in aquaria and cultured for food, but is poorly known in the wild. In February 2010, the first video of the akame living in its natural surroundings was broadcast on the BBC
, in a report on the University of Tokyo
's research project where akame are fitted with ultrasound
tracking devices.
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
endemic in 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...
. It has a comparatively long and compressed body and a large mouth. It is a metallic grey in overall colour, with a bluish tint, darker upperparts, and lighter underparts. Its fins are greyish black, and its pupils are red. The Japanese lates was first scientifically described in 1984, having previously been considered the same species as the barramundi
Barramundi
The Barramundi , also known as Asian Seabass, is a species of catadromous fish in family Latidae of order Perciformes. The native species is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific region from the Persian Gulf, through Southeast Asia to Papua New Guinea and Northern Australia. Known in Thai...
(L. calcarifer). Even when it was realised it was a separate species, publication of a formal description was delayed since the type specimen of the barramundi was alleged to originate in Japan, and because of confusion caused by the deformities of the barramundi's type specimen. The Japanese lates differs from the barramundi in several features. It has a deeper body, longer third dorsal and second anal spines, fewer pectoral fin rays, more scales, and fewer gill rakers. It reaches a maximum length of 130 centimetres (51.2 in) and a maximum weight of 33 kilograms (72.8 lb).
The Japanese lates is a bottom dweller in the freshwater shallows, estuaries
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
, and the ocean. The Japanese lates is known in the south-western part of the Japanese main islands, where it is found in the seas around Tosa Bay, in Kochi Prefecture
Kochi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- History :Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.- Geography...
, Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
and near Miyazaki City in Miyazaki Prefecture
Miyazaki Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Miyazaki.- History :Historically, after the Meiji Restoration, Hyūga Province was renamed Miyazaki Prefecture....
, Kyushu. It is believed to spawn there, and younger fish are found up the Ohyodo and Shimanto
Shimanto River
The is a river in western Kōchi Prefecture, Japan. 196 km in length, it has a watershed of 2,270 km².Since the river is remote from major cities and does not have any dams, it is sometimes referred to as "the last clear stream of Japan". Fishing and production of nori is a thriving...
rivers. The barramundi is believed to replace it in the Ryukyu Islands
Ryukyu Islands
The , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
.
The Japanese lates has long been known to fishermen, but because of its relative rarity and shyness, it achieved "almost legendary" status. The Japanese common name, akame, means "red eyes". For some time, scientists were uncertain which fish was the "akame" of legend, and some suspected Psammoperca waigiensis. It is kept in aquaria and cultured for food, but is poorly known in the wild. In February 2010, the first video of the akame living in its natural surroundings was broadcast on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, in a report on the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
's research project where akame are fitted with ultrasound
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is cyclic sound pressure with a frequency greater than the upper limit of human hearing. Ultrasound is thus not separated from "normal" sound based on differences in physical properties, only the fact that humans cannot hear it. Although this limit varies from person to person, it is...
tracking devices.