United States (contiguous states) country information

Common names: Butterfish, Harvestfish
Occurrence: native
Salinity: marine
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: | Ref:
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: | Ref:
Uses: no uses
Comments: Present inshore south of Cape Hatteras (Ref. 37512); along the Atlantic coasts, it extends from about Chesapeake Bay, straying rarely to the Gulf of Maine (Ref. 53006). Also Ref. 7251, 26340, 27549, 93252.
National Checklist:
Country Information: httpss://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html
National Fisheries Authority: https://www.nmfs.gov
Occurrences: Occurrences Point map
Main Ref: Cervigón, F., 1994
National Database:

Classification / Names

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Stromateidae (Butterfishes)
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Common names from other countries

Stromaté lune, Palometa pámpano, Butterfish, ... more

Main reference

Cervigón, F. 1994. (Ref. 13628)
References | Biblio | Coordinator | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26340); common length : 18.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5217)

Length at first maturity
L_m 12.0 range ? - ? cm

Environment

Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; depth range 15 - 136 m (Ref. 36453)

Climate / Range

Subtropical, preferred 27°C (Ref. 107945); - 38°S

Distribution

Western Atlantic: northeastern USA to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, sometimes reaching Argentina.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 2 - 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 38-47; Anal spines: 2-3; Anal soft rays: 35 - 45. This species is distinguished by the following characters: body very deep (its depth 1.6 to 1.8 in total length), bounded by even curves and strongly compressed; snout short and blunt, about equal to eye diameter; mouth small, tip of maxillary just reaching to below eye margin; teeth in jaws weak, in 1 row, those in the upper jaw slightly recurved, simple and pointed; dorsal and anal fin bases very long (about equal in length), both fins falcate, the length of their longest rays greater than head and preceded by 3 weak spines; caudal fin stiff and deeply forked, both its lobes longer than head; pectoral fins narrow and much longer than head; pelvic fins absent; no conspicuous series of pores below dorsal fin; lateral line high, following dorsal profile; scales small and easily detached, extending to cheeks and bases of vertical fins; body color pale blue to green above, silvery with a golden/yellow tinge below (Ref. 53006).

A pelagic fish forming large schools in coastal bays, inshore waters over the continental shelf and around islands at moderate depths (50 to 70 m) where it occurs throughout the year (Ref. 53006). Juveniles are found in shallow coastal waters under floating weeds; also in or near brackish estuaries (Ref. 5217). The young of less then 10 cm length are often encountered in association with medusae. Adults feed mainly on jellyfish, small fish, crustaceans and worms while juveniles are plankton feeders. Caught mainly with otter trawls, also seines; marketed fresh and frozen (Ref. 53006). Its flesh is well esteemed.

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

More information

Countries
FAO areas
Ecosystems
Occurrences
Introductions
Stocks
Ecology
Diet
Food items
Food consumption
Ration

Common names
Synonyms
Metabolism
Predators
Ecotoxicology
Reproduction
Maturity
Spawning
Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development

Age/Size
Growth
Length-weight
Length-length
Length-frequencies
Morphometrics
Morphology
Larvae
Larval dynamics
Recruitment
Abundance

References
Aquaculture
Aquaculture profile
Strains
Genetics
Allele frequencies
Heritability
Diseases
Processing
Mass conversion

Collaborators
Pictures
Stamps, Coins
Sounds
Ciguatera
Speed
Swim. type
Gill area
Otoliths
Brains
Vision

Tools

Special reports

Check for Aquarium maintenance | Check for Species Fact Sheets | Check for Aquaculture Fact Sheets

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Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD₅₀ = 0.5078 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
4.5 ±0.0 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
Low vulnerability (17 of 100)

Price category (Ref. 80766)
High

Peprilus paru (Linnaeus, 1758)