Alphestes immaculatus — Details

Pacific Mutton Hamlet learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Comprehensive Description

Description

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Common names: hamlet (English), mutton-hamlet (English), guaseta (Espanol)
 
Alphestes immaculatus Breder, 1936


Pacific mutton-hamlet,     Pacific hamlet



Body deep, strongly compressed; large eyes; snout short; preopercle serrated, with large forward-curving spine at lower front corner; 3-5 rows of small teeth on each jaw, a pair of small canines at front of both jaws, most of teeth movable; 21-24 gill rakers; dorsal with XI spines, 18 rays, with little or no notch between spiny and soft parts; anal fin III, 9; pectoral 17; tail rounded; flank scales smooth.

Rusty brown with darker brown blotches forming irregular bars on side; also numerous dark brown and pale spots, and larger pale blotches on head and body; pectoral fins with rows of dark spots.


Size: reaches 30 cm.

Habitat: a secretive nocturnal predator found hiding in rocky crevices or amongst weed during the day.

Depth: 3-32 m.

Southern Baja and the Gulf of California to central Peru, the Revillagigedos, Galapagos, Malpelo and Cocos.

Closely related and sometimes confused with A. afer from the western Atlantic.

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Biology

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A shallow water, cryptically colored, secretive species that inhabits seagrass areas. Sedentary during the day, hiding in crevices or lying among seaweed, and rely on their effective camouflage to escape detection. Sometimes partly covering itself with sand. Nocturnal predators feeding mainly on benthic crustaceans.
  • Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall 1993 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(16):viii+382p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 5222)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=5222&speccode=12 External link.
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Distribution

Range Description

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Alphestes immaculatus is distributed within the eastern Pacific and ranges from the northern Gulf of California (Mexico) to southern Peru, including the Galápagos Islands.
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Depth

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Depth Range (m): 3 (S) - 32 (S)
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Zoogeography

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See Map (including site records) of Distribution in the Tropical Eastern Pacific


 
Global Endemism: All species, East Pacific endemic, Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic

Regional Endemism: All species, TEP endemic, Continent + Island (s), Continent, Island (s)

Residency: Resident

Climate Zone: North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California), Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap), Northern Tropical (Mexican Province to Nicaragua + Revillagigedos), Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo), South Temperate (Peruvian Province )

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Eastern Pacific: northern Gulf of California to Peru, including the Galapagos Islands.
  • Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall 1993 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(16):viii+382p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 5222)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=5222&speccode=12 External link.
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Physical Description

Morphology

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Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 1719
  • Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall 1993 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(16):viii+382p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 5222)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=5222&speccode=12 External link.
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Size

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Length max (cm): 30.0 (S)
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Size

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Maximum size: 300 mm TL
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Max. size

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30.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 5222))
  • Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall 1993 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(16):viii+382p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 5222)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=5222&speccode=12 External link.
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Diagnostic Description

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Preopercle rounded, the posterior edge distinctly serrate, with a large spine (usually covered with skin) projecting downward and forward at the angle. Head and body marbled reddish brown, with obscure bars and small dark and pale spots all over the head, body and median fins. Pectoral fins with 7 or 8 irregular transverse series of small dark spots.
  • Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall 1993 FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rockcod, hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(16):viii+382p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 5222)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=5222&speccode=12 External link.
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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
General
Alphestes immaculatus is a demersal, non-migratory species found in shallow water. Pacific Mutton Hamlet are a cryptically coloured, secretive species that inhabit seagrass and rocky reef areas. Individuals are sedentary during the day, hiding in crevices or lying among seaweed, and rely on their effective camouflage to escape detection. It sometimes partly covers itself with sand.

Feeding
Pacific Mutton Hamlet are nocturnal predators that feed mainly on benthic crustaceans.

Resilience
It is tolerant of a degree of habitat degradation.

Systems
  • Marine
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Depth range based on 31 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 3 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0.3 - 16.5
  Temperature range (°C): 20.583 - 24.554
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.162 - 0.515
  Salinity (PPS): 34.246 - 34.695
  Oxygen (ml/l): 4.733 - 5.165
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.429 - 0.472
  Silicate (umol/l): 3.286 - 4.140

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0.3 - 16.5

Temperature range (°C): 20.583 - 24.554

Nitrate (umol/L): 0.162 - 0.515

Salinity (PPS): 34.246 - 34.695

Oxygen (ml/l): 4.733 - 5.165

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.429 - 0.472

Silicate (umol/l): 3.286 - 4.140
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
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Habitat

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Salinity: Marine, Brackish

Inshore/Offshore: Inshore, Inshore Only

Water Column Position: Bottom, Bottom only

Habitat: Reef (rock &/or coral), Reef only, Rocks, Macroalgae, Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)

FishBase Habitat: Demersal
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Environment

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demersal; non-migratory; marine
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Trophic Strategy

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A shallow water, cryptically colored, secretive species that inhabits seagrass areas. Sedentary during the day, hiding in crevices or lying among seaweed, and rely on their effective camouflage to escape detection. Sometimes partly covering itself with sand. Nocturnal predators feeding mainly on benthic crustaceans. Carnivore (Ref. 57615).
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Feeding

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Feeding Group: Carnivore

Diet: mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs), bony fishes
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Life History and Behavior

Reproduction

Reproduction

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Egg Type: Pelagic, Pelagic larva
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Molecular Biology and Genetics

Molecular Biology

Statistics of barcoding coverage: Alphestes immaculatus

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Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Species: 8
Species With Barcodes: 1

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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
LC
Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2008

Assessor/s
Craig, M.T., Choat, J.H., Ferreira, B., Bertoncini, A.A., Rocha, L. & Heemstra, P.C.

Reviewer/s
Sadovy, Y. & Moss, K. (Grouper and Wrasse Red List Authority)

Contributor/s

Justification
Alphestes immaculatus is assessed as Least Concern since it is a widespread and common species, not currently known to be in significant decline or targeted by commercial fisheries.
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Conservation status

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IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed

CITES: Not listed
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Population

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Population
Alphestes immaculatus is more common in north of its range and becomes less common in the southern extent of its range where Alphestes multiguttatus becomes the more common of the two species. The species is not known to be in decline.

Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats
Alphestes immaculatus is not currently a target of the commercial fishery, but it is caught in the artisanal fishery.
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Least Concern (LC)
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
Alphestes immaculatus occurs in some protected areas throughout it range.
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems

Benefits

Importance

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fisheries: of no interest
  • Heemstra, P.C. 1995 Serranidae. Meros, serranos, guasetas, enjambres, baquetas, indios, loros, gallinas, cabrillas, garropas. p. 1565-1613. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 9342)   http://www.fishbase.org/references/FBRefSummary.php?id=9342&speccode=8727 External link.
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