Chaetodipterus zonatus
The Pacific spadefish (Chaetodipterus zonatus) is a species of fish of the family Ephippidae. It is native to the eastern Pacific, from San Diego, California to Peru,[2] including is the Galápagos Islands where it is known as Chambo.[3]
| Chaetodipterus zonatus | |
|---|---|
| A school of Pacific Spadefish, Sta. Catalina, Panama. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Moroniformes |
| Family: | Ephippidae |
| Genus: | Chaetodipterus |
| Species: | C. zonatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Chaetodipterus zonatus (Girard, 1858) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Appearance edit
C. zonatus has a very deep, compressed body with a blunt snout and a sloping, slightly concave profile. It has a small mouth with the posterior end of the jaw not passing the front of the eye. The maximum recorded size was 65 cm but more commonly reach a length of 25 cm.[2]
They have six black bars on their head and the side of their body, although in large adults these can be difficult to see.[4] Their dorsal fin is large and set well back on their body, the anal fin is opposite and of a similar shape; both have long spines. The pectoral and pelvic fins are small and the caudal fin is large and lunate. All the fins are black in colour.[5]
Habitat edit
C. zonatus is found in subtropical inshore seas, in areas with coral reefs or sandy bottoms, between 3–50 m.[2] They have also been seen occasionally in estuaries, mangroves and lagoons.[1] They normally form small schools and feed on benthic invertebrates.[2]
References edit
- ^ a b Smith-Vaniz, B.; Robertson, R.; Collette, B.; Dominici-Arosemena, A.; Molina, H.; Salas, E.; Guzman-Mora, A.G. (2010). "Chaetodipterus zonatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T178072A7491200. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T178072A7491200.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Chaetodipterus zonatus (Girard, 1858)". Fish Base. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ "Chaetodipterus zonatus". Galapagos Species Checklist. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
- ^ Fitch, John E.; Lavenberg, Robert J. (1975). Tidepool and Nearshore Fishes of California. University of California Press. pp. 61. ISBN 9780520028456.
- ^ . Archived from the original on May 13, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.