Pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera)

Scientific name: Orthopristis chrysoptera Linnaeus, 1766

Pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera)

The Pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera) is a brackish-water fish of the family Haemulidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, New York, USA and Bermuda to Mexico.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-17; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 12 - 13. Back elevated; snout long and tapering. Mouth a little oblique; maxillary reaching vertical from first nostril. Scales in oblique rows above lateral line and horizontal rows below lateral line, extending on base of caudal, pelvic and pectoral fins; also forming a low sheath on base of anal and dorsal fins.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Orthopristis chrysoptera
Family
Haemulidae (Grunts)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
46.0
Common length
30.0
Depth range
10 m (33 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; oceanodromous; depth range 10 - ? m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Western Atlantic: New York, USA and Bermuda to Mexico.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: public aquariums; bait: usually
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=4)

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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