Teleostei (teleosts) >
Eupercaria/misc (Various families in series Eupercaria) >
Priacanthidae (Bigeyes or catalufas)
Etymology: Priacanthus: Greek, prion = saw + Greek, akantha = thorn (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Cuvier.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 10 - 200 m (Ref. 5403), usually 15 - 100 m (Ref. 10786). Subtropical; 44°N - 40°S, 98°W - 34°E
Tropical and tropically influenced areas of the Atlantic Ocean. Western Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951) to Bermuda and at least North Carolina, USA (Ref. 5403) southward to northern Argentina (Ref. 3800). Eastern Atlantic: Madeira to Namibia. Mediterranean (Ref. 50345). Reports from the Indo-Pacific are misidentifications.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 14 - ? cm
Max length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 40637); common length : 35.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3661); max. published weight: 2.9 kg (Ref. 40637)
Found on coral reefs and rocky bottoms (Ref. 3800). Forms small aggregations near the bottom (Ref. 10786). A nocturnal feeder (Ref. 5521), feeds mainly on small fishes, crustaceans and polychaetes (Ref. 3800). Most of its prey are larvae. Flesh considered excellent quality; marketed fresh (Ref. 5217).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Starnes, W.C., 1988. Revision, phylogeny and biogeographic comments on the circumtropical marine percoid fish family Priacanthidae. Bull. Mar. Sci. 43(2):117-203. (Ref. 5403)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 31174)
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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