''Brama'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of marine

ray-finned fish Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fishes, is a class of bony fish. They comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. The ray-finned fishes are so called because their fins are webs of skin supported by bony or hor ...

es from the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Bramidae, the

pomfret Pomfrets are perciform fishes belonging to the family Bramidae. The family currently includes 20 species across seven genera. Several species are important food sources for humans, especially ''Brama brama'' in South Asia. The earlier form of ...

s. Currently, there are 8 species within the genus (see below).

Characteristics

The species in the genus ''Brama'' have a compressed head and body shaped in an tapering oval with a thin caudal peduncle. The dorsal and ventral profiles of the head are convex and it has a bluntly rounded short snout. The mouth is obviously oblique with the lower jaw projecting. They have a single

dorsal fin A dorsal fin is a fin located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates within various taxa of the animal kingdom. Many species of animals possessing dorsal fins are not particularly closely related to each other, though through conv ...

, it and the

anal fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as se ...

are long based. The dorsal fin starts above the base of the

pectoral fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as ...

and both it and the anal fin are similar in shape, although the dorsal fin has an obvious lobe at its anterior end. The pectoral fin is positioned low on the body and is relatively long, extending to the centre of the anal fin. The small

pelvic fin Pelvic fins or ventral fins are paired fins located on the ventral surface of fish. The paired pelvic fins are homologous to the hindlimbs of tetrapods. Structure and function Structure In actinopterygians, the pelvic fin consists of two en ...

s are placed below the base of the pectoral fins. The

caudal fin Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as se ...

is highly concave. The body and most of the head are covered in keeled scales while the scales on the belly are not scaled.

Taxonomy

''Brama'' was named as a genus in 1801 by the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

naturalists Marcus Elieser Bloch (1723–1799) and Johann Gottlob Schneider (1750-1822). In 1823 Bory de Saint-Vincent designated Bloch's ''Sparus raii'' as its

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

Species

Eight recognized species are in this genus: * '' Brama australis''

Valenciennes Valenciennes (, also , , ; nl, label=also Dutch, Valencijn; pcd, Valincyinnes or ; la, Valentianae) is a commune in the Nord department, Hauts-de-France, France. It lies on the Scheldt () river. Although the city and region experienced a s ...

, 1838 (southern Ray's bream) * '' Brama brama'' ( Bonnaterre, 1788) (Atlantic pomfret) * ''

Brama caribbea Brama caribbea, the Caribbean pomfret, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a pomfret of the family Bramidae. It is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean. Description ''Brama caribbea'' can be distinguished from congeners through the following ...

Mead Mead () is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting honey mixed with water, and sometimes with added ingredients such as fruits, spices, grains, or hops. The alcoholic content ranges from about 3.5% ABV to more than 20%. The defining character ...

, 1972 (Caribbean pomfret) * ''

Brama dussumieri ''Brama dussumieri'', the lesser bream or lowfin pomfret, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a pomfret of the family Bramidae. It is found in warm seas around the world. The specific name honours the French explorer and trader Jean-Jacqu ...

G. Cuvier Jean Léopold Nicolas Frédéric, Baron Cuvier (; 23 August 1769 – 13 May 1832), known as Georges Cuvier, was a French naturalist and zoologist, sometimes referred to as the "founding father of paleontology". Cuvier was a major figure in nat ...

, 1831 (lesser bream) * ''

Brama japonica ''Brama japonica'', the Pacific pomfret, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a pomfret of the family Bramidae. ''B. japonica'' is closely related, and quite similar, to '' Brama brama'', but can be distinguished by possessing a greater number ...

'' Hilgendorf, 1878 (Pacific pomfret) * ''

Brama myersi ''Brama myersi'' is a species of Perciformes in the family Bramidae Pomfrets are perciform fishes belonging to the family Bramidae. The family currently includes 20 species across seven genera. Several species are important food sources for h ...

, 1972 (Myers' pomfret) * ''

Brama orcini ''Brama orcini'' is a species of Perciformes in the family Bramidae Pomfrets are perciform fishes belonging to the family Bramidae. The family currently includes 20 species across seven genera. Several species are important food sources for h ...

, 1831 (bigtooth pomfret) * ''

Brama pauciradiata ''Brama pauciradiata'' is a species of pomfret Pomfrets are perciform fishes belonging to the family Bramidae. The family currently includes 20 species across seven genera. Several species are important food sources for humans, especially '' ...

Moteki is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Mitsurō Kubo. It was serialized in ''Evening'' magazine from 2008 to 2010, with its chapters collected into four ''tankōbon'' volumes by Kodansha. It was adapted into a Japanese televi ...

Fujita Fujita (written: , or ) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: *, Japanese handball player *, Japanese long-distance runner *Aya Fujita (born 1987), Japanese shogi player *Emi Fujita (born 1963), Japanese singer *, Japanes ...

Last A last is a mechanical form shaped like a human foot. It is used by shoemakers and cordwainers in the manufacture and repair of shoes. Lasts typically come in pairs and have been made from various materials, including hardwoods, cast iron, and ...

, 1995 (shortfin pomfret) Hibino, Y., Okada, M., Moteki, M. & Kimura, S. (2014): Redescription of the Shortfin Pomfret, ''Brama pauciradiata'', Based on Japanese Specimens (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Bramidae). ''Species Diversity, 19 (2): 111–115.''

Distribution and range

The genus ''Brama'' is predominantly pelagic and can be found globally in the high seas, with the exception of arctic and subarctic waters. This is true with the exception of two species, ''

'' and ''

'', which occupy shallower waters surrounding landmasses.

Commercial importance

Some ''Brama'' spp. are common and, when large, are sought after by fisheries, especially fisheries around

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and

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

Ecology

Despite it being known that these fishes are migratory, little has been reported on their migratory habits. It has been predicted that spawning takes place near the surface, as the smallest larvae are typically collected in shallow waters. It is common for bramids, including ''Brama'' spp. to be found in the stomachs of large pelagic predators, such as

tuna A tuna is a saltwater fish that belongs to the tribe Thunnini, a subgrouping of the Scombridae (mackerel) family. The Thunnini comprise 15 species across five genera, the sizes of which vary greatly, ranging from the bullet tuna (max length: ...

cod Cod is the common name for the demersal fish genus '' Gadus'', belonging to the family Gadidae. Cod is also used as part of the common name for a number of other fish species, and one species that belongs to genus ''Gadus'' is commonly not call ...

, and

billfish The term billfish refers to a group of saltwater predatory fish characterised by prominent pointed bills (rostra), and by their large size; some are longer than . Extant billfish include sailfish and marlin, which make up the family Istiophor ...

(the Cuban billfish ( Xiphias), has been reported to have a diet that consists of 37% ''Brama'' spp.). They are therefore considered to be an important forage fish for many predators.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1053062 Bramidae