United States (contiguous states) country information

Common names: Tautog
Occurrence: native
Salinity: brackish
Abundance: | Ref:
Importance: minor commercial | Ref: Hostetter, E.B. and T.A. Munroe, 1993
Aquaculture: | Ref:
Regulations: restricted | Ref: Hostetter, E.B. and T.A. Munroe, 1993
Uses: gamefish: yes;
Comments: Some states impose a minimum size limit to be followed by commercial and recreational fishers (Ref. 6486).
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: Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray, 1986
National Database:

Classification / Names

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

Common names from other countries

Tautogue noir, Black-fish, Tautogue noir, ... more

Main reference

Leim, A.H. and W.B. Scott. 1966. (Ref. 4926)
References | Biblio | Coordinator : Westneat, Mark | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 91.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7251); max. published weight: 11.3 kg (Ref. 40637); max. reported age: 34 years (Ref. 6486)

Length at first maturity
L_m ?, range 18 - 26.5 cm

Environment

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 75 m

Climate / Range

Subtropical, preferred 12°C (Ref. 107945); 46°N - 31°N, 81°W - 58°W

Distribution

Western Atlantic: slightly east of Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada to South Carolina in USA; most abundant between Cape Cod and Delaware Bay.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8. Distinguished from Tautogolabrus adspersus which occurs in the same area and further north, by its steep, rounded dorsal head profile; stouter body; scaled lower gill cover; and the more backward location of the pelvic fins.

Found close to shore on hard-bottom habitats, occasionally entering brackish water. Adult male territorial and active during the day to feed and rests in crevices at night. Prefers temperatures above 10°C. Spawning was noted in June-July in Canadian waters, but appears more protracted (April-July) in coastal waters of Virginia, USA. Feeds mainly on mussels, gastropods, other mollusks and crustaceans. This species has gained popularity as a prized food and sport fish (Ref. 6486, 4926, 41297). Investigation on the diel and seasonal activity patterns of the adult tautog in its southern range were conducted using ultrasonic telemetry (Ref. 41297).

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Vulnerable (VU) (A2bd)

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums

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

Download XML

Summary page | Point data | Common names | Photos

Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805)
PD₅₀ = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278)
3.3 ±0.47 se; Based on food items.

Resilience (Ref. 69278)
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.09; tm=2-3; tmax=34)

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)
High to very high vulnerability (69 of 100)

Price category (Ref. 80766)
Very high

Tautoga onitis (Linnaeus, 1758)