Chilomycterus reticulatus
Spotfin Burrfish
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Tetraodontiformes (Pufferfishes and Allies)
Diodontidae (Porcupinefishes)
Chilomycterus
Chilomycterus reticulatus (Spotfin Burrfish)
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.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Dorsal and lateral sides of head and body covered with spinelike scales; interorbital region nearly horizontal; snout strongly oblique, rather straight, and relatively long; nostril consists of an open ridged cup; measurements (% SL): head length about 37%, snout length about 16%, eye diameter about 9%, pectoral fin length about 19%, uninflated body depth about 27%; pectoral fin has truncate posterior margin and 19 to 22 rays; dorsal fin has 12 to 14 rays, and anal fin has 11 to 14 rays; spinelike scales short and triangular, with triple subdermal bases, but some spines on top of head have four bases; spine height about one-third of eye diameter; three spines located over orbit; fleshy tentacles on head lacking
Tan with pupil-sized dark brown spots; light brown gular band extends from ventral margin of eye and is continuous under chin; fins covered with smaller, regularly arranged dark brown spots; pelagic-stage juveniles blue with dark spots on dorsal and lateral surfaces
Distribution
New Jersey to Brazil, including the western Gulf of Mexico
Western Gulf of Mexico
Habitat Associations
Tropical waters; pelagic (larval and early juvenile stages up to 200 mm TL); benthic in coastal waters to 100 m (large juveniles and adults)
Biology
Maximum known size is 750 mm TL
Adults found in reefs and over soft bottoms to depths of 100 m, but may occur deeper in the tropics (Ref. 30573). Often found washed up on beaches. Known to brace themselves against the substrate to sleep at night (Ref. 4930). Appear to be active during the day. Juveniles often with floating weeds (Ref. 48637). Solitary. Juveniles pelagic in oceanic surface waters (Ref. 30573). Feed on hard-shelled invertebrates. Not usually marketed.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders; parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2011-06-06. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest.
References
Robins and Ray 1986 (as Chilomycterus atinga)
Tortonese 1986e (as C. atinga)
Smith 1997 (as C. atinga)
Leis 2002
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Leis, J.M. (1986) Diodontidae. p. 903-907. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Leis, J.M. (2001) Diodontidae. Porcupine fishes (burrfishes). p. 3958-3965. In K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 6. Bony fishes part 4 (Labridae to Latimeriidae), estuarine crocodiles. FAO, Rome.
Sommer, C., W. Schneider and J.-M. Poutiers (1996) FAO species identification field guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of Somalia. FAO, Rome. 376 p.
Figueiredo, J.L. and N.A. Menezes (2000) Manual de peixes marinhos do sudeste do Brasil. VI.Teleostei (5). Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo. Brazil. 116 p.
Mundy, B.C. (2005) Checklist of the fishes of the Hawaiian Archipelago. Bishop Mus. Bull. Zool. (6):1-704.
Randall, J.E. and A. Cea (2011) Shore fishes of Easter Island. University of Hawai'i Press, 164 p.
Allen, G.R. and M.V. Erdmann (2012) Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth, Australia: Universitiy of Hawai'i Press, Volumes I-III. Tropical Reef Research.
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