Diplodus argenteus
Silver Porgy
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Sparidae (Porgies)
Diplodus
Diplodus argenteus (Silver Porgy)
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
Oval profile; dorsal profile of head nearly straight to posterior margin of eye; posterior naris rounded; maxilla barely extends to anterior margin of eye; anterior 8 teeth in both jaws broad, incisor-like, and unnotched; teeth in sides of jaws molariform and arranged in 3 rows; gill rakers on first arch short, 17-20; head length 31%-36% SL, snout length 9%-11% SL, eye diameter 10%-12% SL, suborbital depth about 7% SL, pectoral fin length 27%-33% SL, length of second anal fin spine 16%-17% SL, body depth 45%-49% SL, caudal peduncle depth 11%-14% SL; pectoral fin with 15-17 rays; dorsal fin not notched, with 12 spines and 12-14 rays; anal fin with 11-14 rays
Silvery, with a pale yellow stripe along each scale row and about 9 narrow dusky bars on side; black spot or saddle on caudal peduncle largely limited to area above lateral line; fins yellow
Distribution
Western Atlantic from southern Florida and the Bahamas to Argentina, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Greater and Lesser Antilles
In the Gulf of Mexico it occurs off southwestern Florida
Habitat Associations
Shallow coastal waters; clear water over rocky or coral bottoms
Rocky or coral bottoms
Biology
Algae, mollusks, and crabs
Maximum known size is 280 mm TL
Occur in clean turbulent waters along open rocky coasts, usually in surf areas (Ref. 7251). Juveniles are frequently found in littoral pools between rocks (Ref. 9626). Individuals up to 10 cm are caught in shallow waters, often in sandy shores or in seagrass (Thalassia) beds (Ref. 9626). Maximum weight of 2500 g based on confirmed reports from Uruguay (L.A. Pereira, pers. comm., 6/12/01).
Reproductive mode: protandry; fertilization: external; nonguarders.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2011-03-31. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish.
References
Robins and Ray 1986
Cervigón 1993b
Smith 1997
Carpenter 2002b
Randall, J.E. and R. Vergara (1978) Sparidae. In W. Fischer (ed.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Central Atlantic (Fishing Area 31). FAO, Rome. Vol. 5. pag.var.
Cervigón, F. (1993) Los peces marinos de Venezuela. Volume 2. Fundación Científica Los Roques, Caracas,Venezuela. 497 p.
Randall, J.E. (1996) Caribbean reef fishes. Third Edition - revised and enlarged. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Hong Kong. 3nd ed. 368 p.
Smith, C.L. (1997) National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 p.
Sazima, I., C. Sazima, R.B. Francini-Filho and R.L. Moura (2000) Daily cleaning activity and diversity of clients of the barber goby, Elacatinus figaro, on rocky reefs in southeastern Brazil. Environ. Biol. Fishes 59(1):69-77.
Sazima, I. (1986) Similarities in feeding behaviour between some marine and freshwater fishes in two tropical communities. J. Fish Biol. 29(1):53-65.
Gasparini, J.L. and S.R. Floeter (2001) The shore fishes of Trindade Island, western South Atlantic. J. Nat. Hist. 35:1639-1656.
David, G.S., R. Coutinho, I. Quagio-Grassiotto and J.R. Verani (2005) The reproductive biology of Diplodus argenteus (Sparidae) in the coastal upwelling system of Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Afr. J. Mar. Sci. 27(2):439-447.
Comments On Diplodus argenteus