Inhabits clear shallow waters over rocky bottoms in the vicinity of coral reefs, less frequently in sandy or seagrass areas. Often forms large aggregations during the day. Feeds at night mainly on small fish, shrimps, crabs and cephalopods (Ref. 78464).

Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA to northeastern Brazil (Ref. 57756), including the Gulf of Mexico (Ref. 9626). Common around the Caribbean.

Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA to Venezuela, including the Gulf of Mexico

Gulf of Mexico, North West Atlantic

Western Atlantic.

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 8

Maximum size: 480 mm TL

48.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 55)); max. published weight: 1,300 g (Ref. 26340)

Lower jaw projecting slightly beyond upper jaw; lower corner of preopercle greatly projecting and strongly serrated. Preorbital bone broad, maxilla extending nearly to mid-eye level. Preopercular notch and knob moderate. Scale rows on back rising obliquely above lateral line. Back and upper side gray to dark olive grading to silvery ventrally. Usually with a black spot, about eye size, on lateral line below the anterior soft dorsal-fin rays.

reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 100 m (Ref. 36484)

benthic

Depth range based on 575 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 396 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0.225 - 36.6
  Temperature range (°C): 26.007 - 28.067
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.115 - 3.505
  Salinity (PPS): 34.217 - 36.509
  Oxygen (ml/l): 4.285 - 4.748
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.046 - 0.239
  Silicate (umol/l): 0.805 - 5.080

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0.225 - 36.6

Temperature range (°C): 26.007 - 28.067

Nitrate (umol/L): 0.115 - 3.505

Salinity (PPS): 34.217 - 36.509

Oxygen (ml/l): 4.285 - 4.748

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.046 - 0.239

Silicate (umol/l): 0.805 - 5.080
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Depth: 5 - 20m.
From 5 to 20 meters.

Habitat: reef-associated.

Inhabits clear shallow waters over rocky bottoms in the vicinity of coral reefs, less frequently in sandy or seagrass areas. Often forms large aggregations during the day. Feeds at night mainly on small fish, shrimps, crabs and cephalopods. Carnivore (Ref. 57616).

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.


There are 21 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.


Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 23
Specimens with Barcodes: 28
Species With Barcodes: 1

Genomic DNA is available from 2 specimens with morphological vouchers housed at Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo

Not Evaluated

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes