Teleostei (teleosts) >
Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes) >
Ephippidae (Spadefishes, batfishes and scats)
Etymology: Ephippus: Greek, ephippion, horse cloth, saddle.
More on author: Cuvier.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 10 - 75 m (Ref. 26999), usually 10 - 75 m (Ref. 26999). Tropical
Eastern Atlantic: Senegal to Angola (Ref. 3166), including Cape Verde. Reported from Mauritania (Ref. 55783).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2683); common length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2683)
Neritic species (Ref. 27000). Inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms of estuaries (Ref. 2683). Feeds mainly on benthic and planktonic invertebrates (Ref. 3612).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Desoutter, M., 1990. Ephippidae. p. 834-836. 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. 7350)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 18.5 - 28, mean 25.9 °C (based on 134 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.7500 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02692 (0.01132 - 0.06402), b=2.94 (2.74 - 3.14), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.41 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (20 of 100).