Chaetodipterus zonatus

Chaetodipterus zonatus
A school of Pacific Spadefish, Sta. Catalina, Panama.
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Ephippidae
Genus: Chaetodipterus
Species: C. zonatus
Binomial name
Chaetodipterus zonatus
(Girard, 1858)
Synonyms
  • Ephippus zonatus Girard, 1858

Chaetodipterus zonatus (Pacific spadefish) is a species of fish belonging to the Ephippidae family. It is native to the eastern Pacific, from San Diego, California to Peru,[2] including is the Galapagos islands where it is known as Chambo.[3]

Appearance

C. zonatus has a very deep, compressed body with a blunt snout and a slopping, slightly concave profile. It has a small mouth with the posterior end of the jaw not passing the front of the eye. The maximum recorded size was 65 cm but more commonly reach a length of 25 cm.[2]

They have six black bars on their head and the side of their body, although in large adults these can be difficult to see.[4] Their dorsal fin is large and set well back on their body, the anal fin is opposite and of a similar shape; both have long spines. The pectoral and pelvic fins are small and the caudal fin is large and lunate. All the fins are black in colour.[5]

Habitat

C. zonatus is found in subtropical inshore seas, in areas with coral reefs or sandy bottoms, between 3–50 m.[2] They have also been seen occasionally in estuaries, mangroves and lagoons.[6] They normally form small schools and feed on benthic invertebrates.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Smith-Vaniz, B, Robertson, R., Collette, B., Dominici-Arosemena, A., Molina, H., Salas, E. & Guzman-Mora, A.G. (2010). "Chaetodipterus zonatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Chaetodipterus zonatus (Girard, 1858)". Fish Base. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Chaetodipterus zonatus". Galapagos Species Checklist. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  4. ↑ Fitch, John E. and Lavenberg, Robert J. (1975). Tidepool and Nearshore Fishes of California. University of California Press. p. 61. ISBN 9780520028456.
  5. ↑ "Pacific Spadefish Chambo, Paguala Peluquera, Pollera Rayada (Chaetodipterus zonatus)". Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Chaetodipterus zonatus". IUCN Red List. Retrieved August 9, 2012.