Kyphosus incisor (Cuvier, 1831)
Yellow sea chub
Kyphosus incisor
photo by Patzner, R.

Family:  Kyphosidae (Sea chubs)
Max. size:  90 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 3,850.0 g
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 15 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Cape Cod, Massachusetts (USA) to Brazil. Also found in Argentina (Ref. 86336). Eastern Atlantic: Madeira Island (Ref. 74541), São Tiago Island (Cape Verde) and Angola (Ref. 7373); Sao Tome Island (Ref. 30488).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 11-11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 12-13. grey with longitudinal brassy stripes on body and 2 brassy horizontal bands on head. Opercular membrane slightly pigmented. Each jaw with a regular row of close-set, strong, incisor-like, round-tipped teeth of a peculiar hockey-stick shape, their bases set horizontally, resembling a radially striated bony plate inside mouth (Ref 52729).
Biology:  Inhabits shallow waters, especially over rocky bottoms in coral reef areas; also among floating Sargassum weeds (Ref. 3725). Feeds on algae including much Sargassum (Ref. 5521). Marketed fresh (Ref. 3725).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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