Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Kyphosidae (Sea chubs) > Kyphosinae
Etymology: Kyphosus: Greek, kyphos = bent (Ref. 45335); sectatrix: The specific epithet sectatrix means "follower". It is a noun in apposition (Ref. 89336).
Issue
Regarded as nomina dubia by Sakai & Nakabo, 2014 (Ref. 95333). See explanation of the correct name choice to Kyphosus sectatrix (Linnaeus, 1758) versus saltatrix in Eschmeyer (CofF ver. Oct. 2012: Ref. 92135).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 30 m (Ref. 9626), usually 1 - 10 m (Ref. 40849). Subtropical, preferred 26°C (Ref. 107945); 46°N - 29°S, 98°W - 16°E
Western Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951) to Massachusetts, USA and Bermuda southward to Santa Catarina (Ref. 81979) Brazil (Ref. 7251), including Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea (Ref. 9626). Eastern Atlantic: France to south of Morocco to Gulf of Guinea (Ref. 7373); St. Paul's Rocks (Ref. 13121), Ascension and St. Helena, to northern Angola (Ref. 89107). Rarely found in the Mediterranean and off Madeira.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 76.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5288); common length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3397); max. published weight: 6.0 kg (Ref. 40637)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 11;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 11-12;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 11. Gray overall, with faint yellow lines on side and yellow line from corner of mouth to preopercle (Ref. 26938). Upper part pf opercular membrane blackish. The young may display pale spots nearly as large as eye on the head, body and fins (Ref. 13442). Each jaw with a regular row of close-set, strong, incisor-like, round-tipped teeth of a peculiar hockey stick-shape, their bases set horizontally, resembling a radially striated bony plate inside mouth (Ref 52729).
Inhabits shallow waters, over turtle grass, sand or rocky bottom and around coral reefs (Ref. 3725). Young commonly found among floating Sargassum seaweeds (Ref. 3725). Feeds on plants, mainly on benthic algae, as well as on small crabs and mollusks (Ref. 6547, 44187). Also feeds on spinner dolphins’ feces and vomits at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, southeast Atlantic. The offal feeding may be regarded as a simple behavioral shift from plankton feeding to drifting offal picking (Ref. 48727). Marketed fresh (Ref. 3725).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Knudsen, S.W. and K.D. Clements, 2013. Revision of the fish family Kyphosidae (Teleostei: Perciformes). Zootaxa 3751(1):001-101. (Ref. 95491)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
More information
Common namesSynonymsMetabolismPredatorsEcotoxicologyReproductionMaturitySpawningFecundityEggsEgg development
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