Caulolatilus chrysops
Goldface Tilefish
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Malacanthidae (Tilefishes)
Caulolatilus
Caulolatilus chrysops (Goldface Tilefish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
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Characters
Elongate and elliptical in profile, with a predorsal ridge, a well-developed opercular spine, and an emarginate caudal fin. Dorsal profile of head is moderately convex. Mouth is terminal, with maxilla extending to near anterior margin of orbit. Posterior naris is enclosed in tube possessing flap. Jaws have outer row of 28 to 32 canine teeth, including 1 or 2 large antrorse teeth posteriorly, and a patch of villiform teeth on either side of symphyses extending as a single row posteriorly. Preoperculum has serrae on posterior margin. Operculum has a single flat spine directed posteriorly. Gill rakers on first arch number 17 to 21. Measurements are expressed as percent of SL: head length 26%–30%, predorsal length 29%–34%, body depth 27%–30%; and as percent of head length: snout length 28%– 46%, upper jaw length 33%–42%, orbit diameter 19%–30%. Pectoral fin is long and pointed and has 18 or 19 rays. Dorsal fin originates over pectoral fin base and has eight spines and 23 to 25 rays. Anal fin has two spines and 22 to 24 rays. Upper lobe of caudal fin is slightly longer than lower lobe. Scales are ctenoid on body and cycloid on head. On head, scales extend to anterior margin of orbit. Caudal fin is covered with small scales. Lateral line runs parallel to dorsal profile and consists of 82 to 91 pored scales. Rows of cheek scales number 10 to 15.
Color in life is violet, with light yellow sheen dorsally and silvery to pearly white ventrally. Predorsal midline is dark, a broad bright yellow bar runs from nostril to suborbital region, and a black spot marks axil of pectoral fin.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from North Carolina to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Greater Antilles.
In the Gulf of Mexico it occurs in the Dry Tortugas and off Louisiana, Texas, and Veracruz.
Habitat Associations
Generally associated with rubble-covered substrates, between 90 and 192 m depth.
Rubble-covered substrates
Biology
Food consists of bivalves, polychaetes, sea urchins, and crabs.
Maximum known size is 540 mm TL.
Inhabits rubble bottoms. Feeds mainly on crustaceans and other invertebrates; occasionally on small fishes. Flesh not appreciated (Ref. 5217). Minimum depth from Ref. 47377. Traded as an aquarium fish at Ceará, Brazil (Ref. 49392).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2013-01-29. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish; aquarium: commercial.
References
Dooley 1978
Dooley 2002
Hoese and Moore 1977
Hoese and Moore 1998
Burgess and Branstetter 1985
Robins and Ray 1986
Cervigón 1993b
Schaldach et al. 1997
Smith 1997
Cervigón, F., R. Cipriani, W. Fischer, L. Garibaldi, M. Hendrickx, A.J. Lemus, R. Márquez, J.M. Poutiers, G. Robaina and B. Rodriguez (1992) Fichas FAO de identificación de especies para los fines de la pesca. Guía de campo de las especies comerciales marinas y de aquas salobres de la costa septentrional de Sur América. FAO, Rome. 513 p. Preparado con el financiamento de la Comisión de Comunidades Europeas y de NORAD.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Dooley, J.K. (1978) Systematics and biology of the tilefishes (Perciformes: Branchiostegidae and Malacanthidae) with descriptions of two new species. NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS Circ. No. 411:1-78.
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