Scientific Name
Polyprion americanus

Common Name
Wreckfish

Biology
Adults prefer to inhabit caves and shipwrecks. Juveniles congregate below floating objects. Usually solitary. Feed on large crustaceans, cephalopods and benthic fishes. Spawn in the summer. Are primary gonochorists. Marketed fresh or frozen; eaten steamed, fried, broiled, boiled, microwaved and baked. Minimum depth reported from Ref. 6633.

Classification

Classified By

Bloch & Schneider, 1801

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Wreckfishes (Polyprionidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Norway to South Africa , including the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Madeira, Cape Verde, and Tristan da Cunha. Western Atlantic: Newfoundland, Canada and Gulf of Maine to North Carolina, USA. Recorded from Uruguay to Argentina. Western Indian Ocean: St. Paul and Amsterdam islands. Southwest Pacific: New Zealand.

Range

70°N - 55°S, 82°W - 36°E

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

40 m

Depth To - meters

600 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; oceanodromous ; depth range 40 - 600 m , usually 100 - 200 m

Trophic Level

4.14 s.e. 0.64 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

210 cm

Common Length

80.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.6562 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (76 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.05-0.08; tmax=76; tm=9-10 yrs estimated from VBGF; Fec=3 million)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Data deficient (DD),IUCN Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group