Teleostei (teleosts) >
Pleuronectiformes (Flatfishes) >
Cyclopsettidae (Sand whiffs)
Etymology: Citharichthys: Latin, cithara = lire like instrument + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Franz Xaver Stampfli (1847–1903) was a German (possibly Swiss) naturalist who was working in Liberia (1879–1887). [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Steindachner.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; depth range 0 - 50 m (Ref. 2683). Tropical; 21°N - 18°S, 26°W - 20°E
Eastern Atlantic: Senegal to Angola (Ref. 5979, 81290, 81683). Also reported from Mauritania (Ref. 55783).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 17.6 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 128374); max. published weight: 73.00 g (Ref. 126037)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 80 - 87; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 59 - 65. Diagnosis: body oval, its depth 45-50% SL (Ref. 81290, 81683). Head length 27-31% SL; eye diameter 16-23% HL; teeth in a single row on upper as well as lower jaw, no caniniform teeth (Ref. 81683). Interorbital space narrow and slightly concave (Ref. 81290, 81683). Hind end of maxilla extending to below centre of eye (Ref. 81290, 81683) but never posterior to posterior edge of pupil (Ref. 81683). Fin base length of both pelvic fins short and of about equal length (Ref. 81683). Body covered with cycloid or weakly ctenoid scales (Ref. 81290, 81683). Gill rakers moderately long and slender (Ref. 81290, 81683), about 2/3-3/4 length of gill filaments at angle of gill arch (Ref. 81683).
Coloration: eyed side yellowish brown with dark spots along dorsal and anal fins; dark brown spot at base of caudal fin, as well as on upper and lower caudal fin rays; dorsal and anal fins with a series of dark brown spots; blind side entirely whitish (Ref. 81620, 81683).
Occurs in coastal waters (Ref. 2683, 81290) and brackish water of estuaries and lagoons (Ref. 81290, 81683), also ascending rivers (Ref. 81683) and entering freshwater (Ref. 2683). Feeds on fish, shrimps and crabs (Ref. 28587).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairing (Ref. 205). Oviparous (Ref. 101737). Females produce numerous eggs in multiple spawnings during a prolonged spawning period (Ref. 101737).
Aldebert, Y., M. Desoutter and J.-C. Quéro, 1990. Bothidae. p. 1027-1036. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2. (Ref. 5979)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 23.7 - 28, mean 26.7 °C (based on 66 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00490 (0.00320 - 0.00749), b=3.28 (3.16 - 3.40), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.55 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 279 [133, 549] mg/100g; Iron = 1.31 [0.64, 2.52] mg/100g; Protein = 17.1 [15.0, 19.1] %; Omega3 = 0.167 [0.079, 0.343] g/100g; Selenium = 48.1 [21.8, 105.2] μg/100g; VitaminA = 15.6 [4.7, 57.4] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.36 [0.89, 2.02] mg/100g (wet weight);
