| Family: |
Sparidae (Porgies) |
| Max. size: |
46 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,000.0 g |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 87 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Florida, USA and the northeastern Gulf of Mexico to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; throughout the West Indies (Ref. 3815). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 10-10. Silvery, the scales with iridescent reflections; usually a faint longitudinal banding on a body; a blue-gray line under eye present or absent; no other blue markings; no orange or yellow at corner of mouth; small black spot at upper base of pectoral fins (Ref. 13442). |
| Biology: |
Found in clear reef areas over soft or semi-hard bottoms. Juveniles are encountered in seagrass (Thalassia) beds (Ref. 9626). Marketed fresh and frozen. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 31 March 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
reports of ciguatera poisoning |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
