Japanese butterfish
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| Psenopsis anomala |
The Japanese butterfish (Psenopsis anomala) is a marine fish also known by such names as Melon Seed, Wart Perch (a rather unappetizing name despite the popularity of the fish in Japan), 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 Japanese 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.
