Biology ⁶

Found in shallow reefs and rocky bottoms. Usually solitary and territorial. Feeds mainly on crabs (Calapa and Mithrax) and other crustaceans (alpheid shrimps and scyllarid lobsters), fishes (labrids and haemulids), and octopus. Some undergo sexual inversion at 28 cm TL; most fish larger than 40 cm are males. Important in terms of numbers caught and total weight of landings in the Caribbean. Easily approached by divers (Ref. 9710). Hermaphrodite species. Excellent food fish (Ref. 26938). Readily caught on hook and line and easily speared (Ref. 13442).

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Flickr, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8481/8179841449_000861d119_o.jpg
2. (c) John E. Randall, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://d1iraxgbwuhpbw.cloudfront.net/images/species/epgut_u0.jpg
3. (c) Callie, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Callie
4. (c) FAO, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://d1iraxgbwuhpbw.cloudfront.net/images/species/epgut_u0.gif
5. (c) Baldwin, Carole C., some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/services/media.php?env=fishes&irn=10164171
6. (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20836926

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• FishBase
• FishSource
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• VertNet
• World Register of Marine Species

Range Map

(c) AquaMaps, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)

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