Fish of this species are usually deep-bodied, flattened sideways, and somewhat circular or rounded, with blunt noses and small mouths with weak teeth. Some other characteristics of this fish are the absence of ventral fins, one long, continuous dorsal fin, long pectoral fins, and tiny, cycloid scales. The tail fin is nearly as long as the dorsal fin and deeply forked. The American butterfish is similar in appearance to its close relative, the harvestfish (Peprilus alepidotus), but can be distinguished by its much lower dorsal and tail fin.
This fish is a lead-blue color above with pale sides and a silvery belly. It often has dark, irregular spots.
It is generally 6–9 in (15–23 cm), though some individuals reach 12 in (30 cm). They can weigh from 1.75–20 ounces (50–567 g).
Distribution and habitatedit
The American butterfish ranges from the Atlantic coast of North America, from the offing of South Carolina and from coastal North Carolina waters to the outer coast of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton; northward as a stray to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to the south and east coasts of Newfoundland; and southward to Florida in deep water.[3] Relatively little is known about the American butterfish considering it is an important food source and a common species. It travels in small bands or loosely organized schools, preferring sandy-bottomed areas to muddy ones, and often coming close to shore. During summer months, it does not swim deeper than 10 to 15 fathoms (20 to 30 m), but in the winter and early spring, it may be found 100 to 115 fathoms (200 to 230 m) below the surface.
The American butterfish spawns in the Gulf of Maine during the summer months, peaking in July. It appears to spawn a few miles out to sea and returns to the coast when finished. Incubation lasts less than 48 hours in water at 65 °F (18 °C). Fry are 2 mm (0.079 in) long at hatching, and by autumn, have grown to a length of 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm). They appear to reach maturity at about two years of age.
Referencesedit
^Synonyms of Peprilus triacanthus (Peck, 1804) on Fishbase.org
^Henry B. Bigelow and William C. Schroeder. 1953. Butterfish Poronotus triacanthus (Peck) 1800. in Fishes of the Gulf of Maine. Fishery Bulletin 74(53)
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Peprilus triacanthus" in FishBase. January 2006 version.
Butterfish at Northeast Fisheries Science Center
April 18, 2024
american, butterfish, peprilus, triacanthus, also, known, atlantic, butterfish, butterfish, family, stromateidae, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliaphylum, chordataclass, actinopterygiiorder, scombriformesfamily, stromateidaegenus, pe. The American butterfish Peprilus triacanthus also known as the Atlantic butterfish is a butterfish of the family Stromateidae 2 American butterfishScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ActinopterygiiOrder ScombriformesFamily StromateidaeGenus PeprilusSpecies P triacanthusBinomial namePeprilus triacanthus Peck 1804 Synonyms 1 Poronotus triacanthus Peck 1804 Rhombus triacanthus Peck 1804 Stromateus cryptosus Mitchill 1814 Stromateus triacanthus Peck 1804 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Feeding 4 Breeding 5 ReferencesDescription editFish of this species are usually deep bodied flattened sideways and somewhat circular or rounded with blunt noses and small mouths with weak teeth Some other characteristics of this fish are the absence of ventral fins one long continuous dorsal fin long pectoral fins and tiny cycloid scales The tail fin is nearly as long as the dorsal fin and deeply forked The American butterfish is similar in appearance to its close relative the harvestfish Peprilus alepidotus but can be distinguished by its much lower dorsal and tail fin This fish is a lead blue color above with pale sides and a silvery belly It often has dark irregular spots It is generally 6 9 in 15 23 cm though some individuals reach 12 in 30 cm They can weigh from 1 75 20 ounces 50 567 g Distribution and habitat editThe American butterfish ranges from the Atlantic coast of North America from the offing of South Carolina and from coastal North Carolina waters to the outer coast of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton northward as a stray to the Gulf of St Lawrence to the south and east coasts of Newfoundland and southward to Florida in deep water 3 Relatively little is known about the American butterfish considering it is an important food source and a common species It travels in small bands or loosely organized schools preferring sandy bottomed areas to muddy ones and often coming close to shore During summer months it does not swim deeper than 10 to 15 fathoms 20 to 30 m but in the winter and early spring it may be found 100 to 115 fathoms 200 to 230 m below the surface Feeding editIt feeds on small fish crustaceans and annelids Breeding editThe American butterfish spawns in the Gulf of Maine during the summer months peaking in July It appears to spawn a few miles out to sea and returns to the coast when finished Incubation lasts less than 48 hours in water at 65 F 18 C Fry are 2 mm 0 079 in long at hatching and by autumn have grown to a length of 3 4 in 7 6 10 2 cm They appear to reach maturity at about two years of age References edit Synonyms of Peprilus triacanthus Peck 1804 on Fishbase org Froese R and D Pauly Editors 2019 FishBase Peprilus triacanthus Peck 1804 Accessed through World Register of Marine Species at http www marinespecies org aphia php p taxdetails amp id 159828 on 2019 12 02 Henry B Bigelow and William C Schroeder 1953 Butterfish Poronotus triacanthus Peck 1800 in Fishes of the Gulf of Maine Fishery Bulletin 74 53 Peprilus triacanthus Integrated Taxonomic Information System Retrieved 30 January 2006 Froese Rainer Pauly Daniel eds 2006 Peprilus triacanthus in FishBase January 2006 version Butterfish at Northeast Fisheries Science Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title American butterfish amp oldid 1135669339, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
