Caribbean sharpnose-puffer (Canthigaster rostrata) fish species and information / pictures of Caribbean sharpnose-puffer - Canthigaster rostrata

Caribbean sharpnose-puffer (Canthigaster rostrata) fish species information

Scientific Name
Canthigaster rostrata

Common Name
Caribbean sharpnose-puffer

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 9. Distinguished from all other Atlantic species by a short upper dark longitudinal stripe, presence of few spots on flank and dorsum, and absence of a conspicuous (larger than eye) spot on the dorsum. The upper dark longitudinal stripe extends from caudal-fin dorsal margin to the vertical through dorsal-fin base. Although a horizontal line of dark spots extends anterior to the anterior portion of the horizontal dark stripe in some specimens, and sometimes even surpasses the dorsal fin base, this line of spots never forms a continuous stripe. Also distinguished by the absence of vertically oriented bars on the caudal fin and by the presence of bars on the snout (Ref. 43205).

Classification

Classified By

Bloch, 1786

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Puffers and Filefishes (Tetraodontiformes)

Family

Puffers (Tetraodontidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Central Atlantic

Distribution

Western Central Atlantic: South Carolina, USA and Bermuda to Tobago and the Lesser Antilles. All Canthigaster specimens so far recorded from Madeira belong to Canthigaster capistrata (Ref. 43205).

Range

30°N - 23°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

40 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 40 m (Ref. 43205)

Trophic Level

2.99 s.e. 0.38 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

12.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (15 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated