Argyrops spinifer

Argyrops spinifer was first formally described as Sparus spinifer in 1775 by the Swedish-speaking Finnish naturalist and explorer Peter Forsskål with its type locality given as Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. In 1839 William Swainson proposed a new monotypic subgenus, Argyrops of Chrysophrys for this species, so this species is the type species of the genus Argyrops. Argyrops bleekeri of Australia and the Western Pacific has been considered to be conspecific with this species but they are now regarded as valid separate species. This species forms a species complex with A. flavops, described in 2018 from the Arabian Sea. The genus Argyrops is placed in the family Sparidae within the order Spariformes by the 5th edition of Fishes of the World. Some authorities classify this genus in the subfamily Sparinae, but the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise subfamilies within the Sparidae. ==Etymology==

Argyrops spinifer has the specific name spinifer, which means "thorn bearer", which Forsskål did not explain, but it is assumed to refer to the simple, forward pointing first dorsal fin spine. ==Description==

Argyrops spinifer has its dorsal fin supported by between 11 and 13 spines, the first 2 spines being very short and located on the same dorsal pterygiophore, and 9 or 10 soft rays. The king soldierbream has a maximum published total length of but is more typical. ==Distribution and habitat==

Argyrops spinifer is found in the Indian Ocean but its exact distribution is difficult to determine as there are similar species and geographical forms. It is found over a variety of depths between , with the juveniles and subadults preferring shallower, more protected waters. ==Biology==

Argyrops spinifer is a predatory species, it largely hunts benthic invertebrates, particularly molluscs. The king soldierbream may be a protogynous hermaphrodite. In the Arabian Sea spawning was seen to take place between November and January, just after the end of the monsoon. ==Fisheries==

Argyrops spinifer is an important species for recreational and commercial fisheries. They are caught using bottom trawls, handlines and fish traps, it has been studies for its potential in aquaculture in Oman. ==References==