| Family: |
Priacanthidae (Bigeyes or catalufas) |
| Max. size: |
69 cm NG (male/unsexed); max.weight: 4,950.0 g; max. reported age: 9 years |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 40 - 400 m |
| Distribution: |
Circumglobal in tropical and tropically influenced seas. Indo-Pacific: South Africa to the central Pacific islands, north to Japan and Korea, south to southeastern Australia. Eastern Pacific: Baja California to Peru. Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada (Ref. 47377) and New Jersey, USA to probably Argentina (Ref. 11441). Abundant at St. Helena but no substantiated records in eastern Atlantic from the African coastal region or the Canary Islands. Often misidentified as Cookeolus boops, a junior synonym of Heteropriacanthus cruentatus (Ref. 11441). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 12-14. Last (10th) dorsal spine twice the length of the second (Ref. 48635).
Description: Characterized by the following: generally red color; very long pelvic fins, exceeding head length; well developed preopercular spine; rounded caudal fin (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Found on hard bottoms to a depth of about 400 m and reported to be moderately common at depths of 165 to 260 m in association with rocky holes and ledges; preferably with rich invertebrate growth such as sponges and soft corals (Ref. 48635). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Juveniles pelagic (Ref. 9335, 9563). Feed on pelagic crustaceans (Ref. 9335). Probably spawns in the Caribbean from May to September. Solitary (Ref 90102). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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