Scientific Name
Oligoplites palometa

Common Name
Maracaibo leatherjacket

Biology
Found mainly in brackish and fresh waters; also over muddy bottoms of coastal marine waters (Ref. 5217). May leap out of the water. A carnivorous fish that returns to the sea to reproduce (Ref. 36880). Bears venomous glands on dorsal and anal spines (Ref. 40401). Juveniles up to 8.2 cm FL feed mainly on scales taken from larger fishes, also on benthic and planktonic crustaceans, and to a minor extent on smaller fishes and polychaetes (Ref. 40402). Juveniles up to 3.0 cm TL adopt a dark brown color pattern while close to decaying plant fragments, an example of camouflage (Ref. 40401, 46533). Over open, detritus-free and light colored sandy bottom, adopts a contrasting yellowish and dark brown pattern, an example of warning colors. Its conspicuous colors are mimicked by juveniles of the non-venomous grunt Pomadasys ramosus (Ref. 46533).

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1832

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Jacks and pompanos (Carangidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Lake Izabal, Guatemala eastward to Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Range

16°N - 26°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

18 m

Depth To - meters

45 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; depth range 18 - 45 m (Ref. 3277)

Trophic Level

4.46 s.e. 0.79 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

49.7 cm

Common Length

35.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5312 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (31 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Venomous (Ref. 40401)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated