Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber)

Scientific name: Chaetodipterus faber Broussonet, 1782

Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber)

The Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber) is a brackish-water fish of the family Ephippidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Massachusetts, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Biology

Abundant in shallow coastal waters, from mangroves and sandy beaches to wrecks and harbors. Juveniles (black phase) are common in estuaries and often found in very shallow water swimming at an angle resembling dead leaves or as infertile red mangrove pods and other debris. Adults often occur in very large schools of up to 500 individuals. Feed on benthic invertebrates like crustaceans, mollusks, annelids, cnidarians as well as on plankton. Good food fish; marketed fresh. Often circles divers. Minimum depth from. In southeastern Brazil found between 23 and 45 m. Has been reared in captivity.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Chaetodipterus faber
Family
Ephippidae (Spadefishes, batfishes and scats)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
91.0
Common length
50.4
Depth range
3–35 m (10–115 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; oceanodromous; depth range 3 - 35 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA and northern Gulf of Mexico to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=8; tm=1; K=0.34)

More other freshwater fish

See all other freshwater fish

Sources

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

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