Rationale
Acanthopagrus catenula is a recently validated species that was previously thought to be a southern population of A. bifasciatus. Acanthopagrus catenula may be of minor commercial importance as its congener A. bifaciatus is, but specific information about the commercial use of this species is limited and will require further observation. There is also research needed to determine population trends and life history characteristics specific to A. catenula. It is therefore listed as Data Deficient.
Distribution
Acanthopagrus catenula is distributed from the Gulf of Oman (Jawad et al. 2012) off the Horn of Africa and Socotra Island to South Africa, including Kenya and Mozambique, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Rodriguez (Iwatsuki and Heemstra 2011). This species is considered to be endemic to the Western Indian Ocean (Jawad et al. 2012). The depth range for this species is two to 50 m (Sommer et al. 1996, Laroche et al. 1997).
Population trend
Trend
Acanthopagrus catenula was previously thought to be a southern population of A. bifasciatus but was recently validated as a separate species (Iwatsuki and Heemstra 2011). Ten specimens of A. catenula were recently collected from the Gulf of Oman which suggests that there is a self sustaining population in the area (Jawad et al. 2012). Additional population information is limited for A. catenula.
Threats
Current threats to Acanthopagrus catenula are unknown.
Uses and trade
In Somolia, this species is caught with longlines, handlines, stakenets, and traps (Sommer et al.1996). This species may be of minor commercial importance as its congener A. bifasciatus.
Conservation
There are no species-specific conservation measures in place for this species. It occurs in some marine protected areas within its range (World Database of Protected Areas, accessed 11 March 2014). Additional research is needed to determine population trends and quantify exploitation amounts. There is also a lack of biology and life history information for A. catenula.
