Atlantic butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus)

Scientific name: Peprilus triacanthus Peck, 1804

Atlantic butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus)

The Atlantic butterfish (Peprilus triacanthus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Stromateidae.

Biology

Forms large schools over the continental shelf, except during the winter months when it may descend to deeper water. Juveniles are generally found under floating weeds and jellyfish. Often found in brackish waters. Nerito-pelagic. Adults feeds mainly on jellyfish, squids, arrow worms, crustaceans and worms. Marketed fresh, smoked and frozen; eaten fried, broiled and baked. Mostly frozen and exported to Japan.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Peprilus triacanthus
Family
Stromateidae (Butterfishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
30.0
Common length
20.0
Depth range
15–420 m (49–1378 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; oceanodromous; depth range 15 - 420 m, usually ? - 55 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: eastern Newfoundland and Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada to Palm Beach, eastern Florida, USA. Also in the Gulf of Mexico. Absent in Bermuda or Caribbean.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.8(?); tm=1)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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