Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 110 m (Ref. 26938), usually 10 - 50 m (Ref. 5217). Tropical; 22°C - 28°C (Ref. 130653); 41°N - 33°S
Western Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951) to New York (USA), Bermuda, and northern Gulf of Mexico to southern Brazil.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 18.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26340); common length : 12.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5217); max. published weight: 75.80 g (Ref. 131022)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 76 - 91; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 58 - 69. Light tan to light gray with irregular pale rings or rosettes, some of which are dark-edged; scattered small dark spots and three large blackish spots along straight portion of lateral line, the middle one the best defined (Ref. 13442).
Inhabits sandy areas with coral rubble or seagrasses, usually near patch reefs (Ref. 9710). Shallow coastal waters to depths of 110 m (Ref. 26938). Lies motionless on the bottom, moving only when frightened (Ref. 9710). Larvae are attracted to lights at night but are difficult to see because they are transparent (Ref. 26938). About one-third of the diet consists of fishes; the rest of its food is crustaceans: crabs, shrimps, amphipods, and mantis shrimps (Ref. 13442).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray, 1986. A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p. (Ref. 7251)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 21.8 - 28.9, mean 27.3 °C (based on 1916 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01023 (0.00598 - 0.01751), b=2.92 (2.78 - 3.06), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.8 ±0.4 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 69.1 [27.1, 143.8] mg/100g; Iron = 0.55 [0.25, 0.99] mg/100g; Protein = 18.2 [16.6, 19.7] %; Omega3 = 0.0959 [, ] g/100g; Selenium = 31.4 [15.8, 67.5] μg/100g; VitaminA = 93 [24, 391] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.11 [0.73, 1.64] mg/100g (wet weight);
