Mutton hamlet (Alphestes afer) fish species and information / pictures of Mutton hamlet - Alphestes afer

Mutton hamlet (Alphestes afer) fish species information

Scientific Name
Alphestes afer

Common Name
Mutton hamlet

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-20; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10. Diagnosis: Body depth is slightly less than head length, depth contained 2.4-3.1 (2.9) in standard length; caudal peduncle depth 7.0-9.0 (8.5) times in SL; eye diameter greater than or equal to snout length and 8.1-15.0 (13) times in SL; snout length 10.1-16.0 (16.0) times in SL; preopercle rounded, posterior edge serrate, with a large antrorse spine at the angle directed downward and forward and usually covered with skin. Gill rakers 5-8 (7) on upper limb, 14-17 (16) on lower limb, 19-25 (23) total, including rudiments. Dorsal fin with XI spines and 17 to 20 (18) soft rays, anal fin with III spines and 9, rarely 10 (10) soft rays; pectoral fins with 16 - 18 (17) rays; caudal fin rounded, with 15 branched rays. Scales are smooth. Lateral-line scales 49-66; lateral scale series 68 ? 88 (76). Color in life; head, body, and median fins olivaceous or light brown, irregul

Classification

Classified By
Bloch, 1793
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Perch-like fish (Perciformes)
Family
Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets (Serranidae)

Distribution

Region
Western Atlantic
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Bermuda, south Florida (USA), Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, Cuba, West Indies, Panama, Venezuela, and southward to the state of S?o Paulo, Brazil. Alphestes afer has recently been re-discovered at S?o Tom? in the Gulf of Guinea of the Eastern Atlantic.
Range
32°N - 27°S, 86°W - 32°W

Environment

Climate
Tropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
2 m
Depth To - meters
30 m
Zone
reef-associated
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 2 - 30 m (Ref. 9710)
Trophic Level
3.48 s.e. 0.59 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
33.0 cm
Common Length
Unknown cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.6250 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Vulnerability
Low to moderate vulnerability (33 of 100)
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Fec=150,000-220,000)
Threat To Humans
  Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30303)
IUCN Red List Status
  Least Concern (LC)