Overview

Comprehensive Description

Description

Common names: sand-perch (English), squirrelfish (English), camotillo (Espanol), menta (Espanol), serrano (Espanol)
 
Diplectrum sciurus Gilbert, 1892

Squirrel sand-perch,     Gulf sand-perch,     Gulf squirrelfish

Body elongate, slender, moderately compressed;  width of upper jawbone > width between eye and that bone; angle of preopercle a deep, square bony spur with 5-10 large spines, that spur wider than remainder of preopercular margin above; 32-41 gill rakers; dorsal fairly low, X, 11-13; pelvics under or a little before pectorals; anal III,7-8; tail base slender (~ 10% of SL); tail concave; scales moderately small, rough; snout and between eyes scaleless; 47-52 lateral line scales, 12-17 vertical rows scales on cheek. 


Greybrown,  body with 2 dark stripes and 8-10 dark bars; inside operculum not black;  spiny dorsal grey with 3 rows yellow spots, joining 2 rows yellow spots on soft fin; dark blotch at tail base; tail dark with irregular small yellow spots.

        Size: 17 cm.

Habitat: fine sand bottom.

Depth: 25-100 m.

        
Southern Baja and the western and the Gulf of California.

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Biology

Inhabits bottoms with fine sand.
  • 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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Distribution

Range Description

This species is endemic to the Eastern Pacific, and is found only from southern Baja California and in the Gulf of California.
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Depth

Depth Range (m): 25 (S) - 100 (S)
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Zoogeography

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, Continental TEP endemic, Cortez province endemic, Continent, Continent only

Residency: Resident

Climate Zone: North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California), Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap)

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Eastern Central Pacific: Gulf of California and southern Baja California, Mexico.
  • 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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Physical Description

Morphology

Size

Length max (cm): 17.0 (S)
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Size

Maximum size: 170 mm TL
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Max. size

17.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 9342))
  • 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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Type Information

Cotype for Diplectrum sciurus
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Year Collected: 1889
Locality: Gulf of California, Mexico, Pacific
Depth (m): 265 to 265
Vessel: Albatross
  • Cotype:
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Cotype for Diplectrum sciurus
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Year Collected: 1889
Locality: Gulf of California, Mexico, Pacific
Depth (m): 31 to 31
Vessel: Albatross
  • Cotype:
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Cotype for Diplectrum sciurus
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Year Collected: 1889
Locality: Gulf of California, Mexico, Pacific
Depth (m): 26 to 26
Vessel: Albatross
  • Cotype:
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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

Habitat and Ecology
This demersal species inhabits substrata with fine sand at depth of 25 to 100m. It feeds on mobile benthic crustaceans, zooplankton, bony fishes, and pelagic fish larvae.

Systems
  • Marine
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Depth range based on 4 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 1 sample.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 3 - 265
  Temperature range (°C): 19.787 - 19.787
  Nitrate (umol/L): 7.979 - 7.979
  Salinity (PPS): 35.191 - 35.191
  Oxygen (ml/l): 4.548 - 4.548
  Phosphate (umol/l): 1.320 - 1.320
  Silicate (umol/l): 18.854 - 18.854

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 3 - 265
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
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Depth: 25 - 100m.
From 25 to 100 meters.

Habitat: demersal. Inhabits bottoms with fine sand.
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Habitat

Salinity: Marine, Marine Only

Inshore/Offshore: Inshore, Inshore Only

Water Column Position: Bottom, Bottom only

Habitat: Soft bottom (mud, sand,gravel, beach, estuary & mangrove), Soft bottom only, Mud, Sand & gravel

FishBase Habitat: Demersal
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Environment

demersal; marine; depth range 25 - 100 m (Ref. 9342)
  • 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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Trophic Strategy

Feeding

Feeding Group: Carnivore, Planktivore

Diet: mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs), zooplankton, pelagic fish eggs, pelagic fish larvae, bony fishes
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Life History and Behavior

Reproduction

Reproduction

Egg Type: Pelagic, Pelagic larva
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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment


Red List Category
LC
Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2010

Assessor/s
Smith-Vaniz, B, Robertson, R., Dominici-Arosemena, A., Molina, H., Salas, E., Guzman-Mora, A.G.

Reviewer/s
Carpenter, K., Polidoro, B., Livingstone, S. (Global Marine Species Assessment Team)

Justification
This species is restricted to Baja California and the Gulf of California, and is considered common throughout its range. There are no major threats known, and no current indication of widespread population decline. It is listed as Least Concern.
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Conservation status

IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed

CITES: Not listed
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Population

Population
There is no population information available for this species. It is considered to be common throughout its restricted range.

Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats

Threats

Major Threats
There are no major threats known for this species.
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Least Concern (LC)
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Management

Conservation Actions

Conservation Actions
There are no known species specific conservation measures. However,this species' distribution includes Marine Protected Areas in the Gulf of California.
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Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems

Benefits

Importance

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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