Description

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 10. Mouth small and moderately oblique, the maxilla not reaching posterior to front edge of eye; grayish brown with violet hues on the back, silvery on the sides, with many small brown-orange spots on head, upper half of body and dorsal fin (Ref. 13442).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Eupercaria/misc

Family: Haemulidae

Genus: Orthopristis

Species: Orthopristis rubra (Cuvier, 1830)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Occurs in coastal waters, over sand, rock or mud bottoms (Ref. 13608). Juveniles found near the shore, associated with Thalassia beds (Ref. 9626). Also found in brackish water (Ref. 3798). Feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, polychaete worms, fishes, and other invertebrates (Ref. 9626). Well appreciated as a food fish; marketed fresh and salted (Ref. 5217).

Habitat

brackish