Black musselcracker (Cymatoceps nasutus)

Scientific name: Cymatoceps nasutus Castelnau, 1861

Black musselcracker (Cymatoceps nasutus)

The Black musselcracker (Cymatoceps nasutus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sparidae. Native range: Western Indian Ocean, Natal to the Cape in South Africa.

Biology

Inhabits shallow, rocky coastal areas to 80 m depth. Rarely enters estuaries. Feeds on crabs, crayfish, sea urchins and other hard-shelled animals. Takes almost any bait. Important food fish. Head considered a delicacy in some areas.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Cymatoceps nasutus
Family
Sparidae (Porgies)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
150
Depth range
80 m (262 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range ? - 80 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Indian Ocean: Natal to the Cape in South Africa.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (K=0.05; tmax=45)

Sources

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

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