TAXONOMY

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets)
Subfamily: Epinephelinae (groupers)

Genus/species: Gonioplectrus hispanus

Gonioplectrus hispanusIMG_9063

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Head, body, dorsal and caudal fins yellow; 6-7 salmon-colored stripes from the head to the dorsal and caudal fins; blood-red blotch on the front half of anal fin; white blotch on the side of belly; pinkish purple pelvic fins. Max. length 30 cm (12 inches).

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Western Atlantic: off North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and south to Vitoria, Brazil Found in deepwater on sandy bottoms and reefs. Demersal; depth range 35 – 365 m (115-1200 feet).

DIET IN THE WILD: Piscivores (feeds on fish)

CONSERVATION: IUCN; Least Concern

REFERENCES:

fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/3323

filickr  www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/14473428691/in/photostr…

WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1i3

Vetted Matt Wandell,  Biologist California Academy of Sciences