| Family: |
Sparidae (Porgies) |
| Max. size: |
33 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 550.0 g; max. reported age: 2 years |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 40 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: New Jersey, USA and northeastern Gulf of Mexico to Argentina (Ref. 4517). Absent from the Bahamas (Ref. 26938). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 13-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 10-11. Large intestine makes up 90% of digestive tract and is twice the standard length, on the average; the stomach with 7 digestive caeca attached near the pyloric region. Pelvic fin coloration totally or partially dark in males; orange colored in females. Large dark spot (about same size as eye) below lateral line just behind gill opening (Ref. 26938). |
| Biology: |
Commonly found over mud bottoms in mangrove sloughs and on vegetated sand bottoms, sometimes in brackish water and occasionally also in coral reef areas near mangroves. Feeds on benthic invertebrates (small bivalves, crustaceans), as well as on plant material. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 30 March 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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