View source for Galjoen

{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Galjoen
| image = Dichistius capensis Histoire naturelle des poissons (10438601306).jpg
| image2 = Galjoen 4, crop.jpg
| taxon = Dichistius capensis
| authority = ([[Georges Cuvier|G. Cuvier]], 1831)
| synonyms = * ''Dipterodon capensis'' <small>G. Cuvier, 1831</small>
* ''Coracinus capensis'' <small>(G. Cuvier, 1831)</small>
* ''Coracinus aper'' <small>Gronow, 1854</small>
* ''Dichistius falcatus'' <small>J. L. B. Smith, 1935</small>
}}
The '''galjoen''', '''black bream''', or '''blackfish''' ('''''Dichistius capensis''''') is a species of marine [[fish]] found only along the coast of South Africa, Namibia and Angola. Galjoen is the [[National animal|national fish]] of South Africa.<ref name="Lill2004"/>
==Distribution and habitat==
[[File:Galjoen at Rocky Bay DSC00471.JPG|thumb|left|Galjoen at Rocky Bay]]
The galjoen is indigenous to the coasts of southern Africa from [[Angola]] to [[South Africa]], and is generally found around [[reefs]] at shallow depths around {{convert|10|m|ft|abbr=on}}, often near the shore.
==Description==
This species can reach {{convert|80|cm|in|abbr=on}} in [[fish measurement|total length]] and a weight of {{convert|6.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. The body is compressed, and the fins are well developed, with prominent spines,<ref name="Lill2004"/> 10 of them, with between 18 and 23 rays. The anal fin has three spines, and usually 13 or 14 rays, the pelvic fins have 1 spine and 5 rays, and the pectoral fins are typically shorter than the head.<ref name="Heemstra2004"/> The body, fins, and head, with the except of the front of the snout, are covered in scales.<ref name="Heemstra2004">{{cite book|last=Heemstra|first=Phillip C.|title=Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e4H1uWszXOQC&pg=PA248|date=January 2004|publisher=NISC (PTY) LTD|isbn=978-1-920033-01-9|page=248}}</ref> The lips are thick, with strong curved incisors at the front of the mouth, with smaller teeth behind the front incisors.<ref name="Heemstra2004"/>
[[File:Galjoen 2.jpg|left|thumb|Galjoen at Castor Rock]]
==Ecology==
===Diet===
The species usually feeds on red and coraline seaweed and red bait, small [[mussels]] and [[barnacle]]s found off rocky shores,<ref name="Lill2004"/> and appear in particular to be a partial to the [[Donax (bivalve)|white mussel]]s residing in the sandy beaches and inlets of the rocky outcrops along the southern coast.
===Home area===
In 2005, the movements of the species were extensively studied. Some 25,000 galjoen were tagged at four sites in reserves in South Africa and their overall movement was found to remain localised, with some 95% of fish studied seeming to frequent a particular area.<ref name="CadrinKerr2013">{{cite book|last1=Cadrin|first1=Steven X.|last2=Kerr|first2=Lisa A.|last3=Mariani|first3=Stefano|title=Stock Identification Methods: Applications in Fishery Science|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tYZqAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA388|date=4 October 2013|publisher=Academic Press|isbn=978-0-12-397258-3|page=388}}</ref>
== Conservation status ==
According to the [[South African Association for Marine Biological Research]], the population of the galoen is depleted at less than 20% of its optimal size; the existing stock is maintained due to natural refuges and no-take [[Marine protected areas of South Africa|MPAs]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Oceanographic Research Institute - Fish Fact Sheet - Galjoen |url=https://saambr.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/ORI-Fish-Fact-Sheet-Galjoen.pdf |website=[[South African Association for Marine Biological Research]]}}</ref>
In the 2018 National Biodiversity Assessment by [[South African National Biodiversity Institute|SANBI]], it is listed as Near Threatened.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Van Deventer |first=Heidi |last2=Van Niekerk |first2=Lara |last3=Harris |first3=Linda |last4=Smith-Adao |first4=Lindie |last5=Foden |first5=Wendy |last6=Midgley |first6=Guy |date=2019-09-29 |title=National Biodiversity Assessment 2018: The status of South Africa’s ecosystems and biodiversity. Synthesis Report. Synthesis Report. South African National Biodiversity Institute, an entity of the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Pretoria |url=https://opus.sanbi.org/handle/20.500.12143/6362 |journal=National Biodiversity Assessment |language=en |isbn=9781928224341}}</ref> It is listed on the [[South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative List]] as a red-listed fish that cannot be sold nor bought; only recreational anglers with a permit may catch a minimum size of 35 cm with a limit of 2 a day.<ref name=":0" />
==Importance to humans==
===Fishing===
It is important to local [[commercial fisheries]] and is also popular as a [[game fish]].<ref>{{FishBase |genus= Dichistius|species= capensis| month = April | year = 2013}}</ref>
===As food===
Due to their abundance in the shores off South Africa, galjoen is common in [[South African cuisine]]. A notable dish is the fish sprinkled with pepper and lemon — or alternatively with lemon, mayonnaise, and melted garlic butter — and served with fresh bread and apricot jam.<ref name="Paarman2003">{{cite book|last=Paarman|first=Ina|title=West Coast Cookbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6CTWMa8eWTgC&pg=PA96|year=2003|publisher=Struik|isbn=978-1-86872-846-6|page=96}}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
===As the national fish of South Africa===
Galjoen is the national fish of South Africa. The suggestion to make it the national fish came from [[Margaret Mary Smith|Margaret Smith]], the wife of ichthyologist [[J. L. B. Smith]], to find a marine equivalent to the [[springbok]].<ref name="Lill2004">{{cite book|last=Lill|first=Dawid Van|title=Van Lill's South African Miscellany|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v5whRwm1o3wC&pg=PT51|date=1 January 2004|publisher=Zebra|isbn=978-1-86872-921-0|page=51}}{{Dead link|date=May 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==Etymology==
The scientific name of ''Coracinus capensis'' is a reference to its black colour when found in rocky areas, ''Coracinus'' meaning "raven" or "black coloured"; in sandy areas it gives off a silver-bronze colour.<ref name="Lill2004"/>
==References==
{{Commons category|Dichistius capensis}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3644227}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Dichistiidae]]
[[Category:National symbols of South Africa]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Georges Cuvier]]
[[Category:Fish described in 1831]]