Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Malacanthidae (Tilefishes) > Malacanthinae
Etymology: Malacanthus: Greek, mala = a lot + Greek, akantha = thorn (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 10 - 153 m (Ref. 9626), usually 10 - 50 m (Ref. 9626). Subtropical, preferred ?; 34°N - 8°S

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Western Atlantic: North Carolina (USA), Gulf of Mexico, and throughout the Caribbean to Rio de la Plata, Uruguay. Southeast Atlantic: Ascension Island.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 70.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 8991); common length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3644); max. published weight: 1.0 kg (Ref. 40637)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 4 - 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 53-57; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 50 - 52. Caudal fin lunate.

Primarily a shallow-water benthic species found on sand and rubble bottoms (Ref. 5246). Builds mounds of rubble and shell fragments near reefs and grass beds; enters its mound head first when frightened (Ref. 5246). Feeds mainly on stomatopods, fishes, polychaete worms, chitons, sea urchins, sea stars, amphipods and shrimps (Ref. 3644). Tends to bite when handled (Ref. 5246). Marketed fresh (Ref. 5246). Between 1995 and 2000, at least 7 specimens have been traded as aquarium fish at Ceará, Brazil (Ref. 49392).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Dooley, James | Collaborators

Dooley, J.K., 1978. Systematics and biology of the tilefishes (Perciformes: Branchiostegidae and Malacanthidae) with descriptions of two new species. NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS Circ. No. 411:1-78. (Ref. 8991)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Least Concern (LC)

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 5246)

Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

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More information

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Age/Size
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Internet sources

Estimates of some properties based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805): PD₅₀ = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00537 (0.00241 - 0.01199), b=3.03 (2.82 - 3.24), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic Level (Ref. 69278): 3.7 ±0.3 se; Based on diet studies.

Resilience (Ref. 69278): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).

Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): High vulnerability (63 of 100) .

Price category (Ref. 80766): Very high.

Malacanthus plumieri (Bloch, 1786)