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Pomfret

life science Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Pomfrets are a special group of fish. They belong to a family called Bramidae. This family has 20 different species. These fish are important to people around the world. Many people use them as a food source. In South Asia, the Brama brama is very popular. The meat of these fish is white in color.

These fish live in many different ocean areas. You can find them in the Atlantic Ocean. They also live in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Some live in the Norwegian Sea or the Mediterranean Sea. Most species stay in the high seas. This means they live in the open water. Other types live near continental shelves. These are the edges of the land under the sea.

Scientists have studied these fish for a long time. The name pomfret has an interesting history. It likely comes from the Portuguese word pampo. This word was used for many fish. One example is the blue butterfish. In Hawaii, some people use a different name. They call certain species monchong. This shows how different cultures name the same fish.

There are many groups, or genera, within this family. One group is Brama, named in 1801. Another is Pteraclis, named in 1772. There is also Eumegistus, named in 1922. Scientists think Eumegistus lives in deep water. These fish might be benthic. That means they live on the bottom of the sea. Other groups include Pterycombus and Taractes.

We can also learn about pomfrets from fossils. Fossils are remains of fish from a long time ago. One fossil group is called Bramoides. Another is called Goniocranion. A third fossil group is named Paucaichthys. There was once a group called Digoria in this family. Now, scientists know it belongs to a different family. These fossils help us see how fish change.

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