| King threadfin | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Polynemidae |
| Genus: | Polydactylus |
| Species: | P. macrochir |
| Binomial name | |
| Polydactylus macrochir (Günther, 1867) |
|
The King threadfin, Polydactylus macrochir, is a threadfin native to tropical waters of northern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea.
Other common names include King Threadfin Salmon, King Salmon, Threadfin Salmon, Burnett River Salmon
King threadfin are the largest of the seven species of threadfin found in Australian Waters. They grow usually between 50cm - 90cm in length[1], although there have been many cases of it growing to over 130cm in length from the Brisbane River in Australia[2]. They range in weight from 1kg to 15kg with average being 3.5kg.
King Threadfins are popular recreational species in Western Australia, Northern Queensland and increasingly South-East Queensland. With the species now being found further South down the East coast of Australia, many more recreational anglers are targeting them and as a result they have been included as a category in the Brisbane River Classic fishing competition.
They are found in coastal estuaries, river mouths and turbid waters generally. they mainly eat seasonally abundant prawns, small fish and other small crustaceans. Spawning in east coast Australian populations occursfrom October to early March.
The King Threadfin usually has five long filaments below the pectoral (side) fin.