Popeye catalufa (Pristigenys serrula)

Scientific name: Pristigenys serrula Gilbert, 1891

The Popeye catalufa (Pristigenys serrula) is a marine fish of the family Priacanthidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, Monterey Bay in California, USA along continental shelf to Peru, including Revillagigedo, Cocos and the Galapagos Islands.

Biology

A shy nocturnal fish that prefers the deeper water around islands. It may be found with squirrelfishes and cardinalfishes but tends to range deeper than they do (76 m). Known to occur at depths of less than 5 to over 100 m in rocky habitats.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Pristigenys serrula
Family: Priacanthidae (Bigeyes or catalufas)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 34.0
Common length: 20.0
Depth range: 5–100 m (16–328 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 5 - 100 m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Eastern Pacific: Monterey Bay in California, USA along continental shelf to Peru, including Revillagigedo, Cocos and the Galapagos Islands.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026