CHIROCENTRIDAE Wolf-herrings

Elongate, highly compressed body; scutes absent from belly. Single dorsal fin set close to deeply-forked caudal fin. Scales large, soft and bright silver. Large, needle sharp canine teeth to both jaws. Two species present in the Arabian Gulf and east coast, i.e.Chirocentrus dorab and C. nudus .

Dorab wolf herring Chirocentrus dorab

Dark-green dorsally, silvery. Large scaled, flattened, elongate body. Large needle-sharp teeth, underslung mouth. Dorsal fin black. Oceanic and pelagic. Predator of small fishes and crustaceans. This species looks very much like a giant elongated herring, with large silvery scales which easily come off when handled. A common fish in the market, and reputedly good to eat but bony. 100 cm.

Whitefin wolf herring Chirocentrus nudus

Dark-green dorsally, silvery. Large scaled, flattened, elongate body. Large needle-sharp teeth, underslung mouth. Dorsal fin pale, contrasting with the black dorsal fin of C. dorab . Oceanic and pelagic. Predator on small fishes and crustaceans. 100 cm.