Peprilus burti (SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble, NOAA/NMFS/SEFSC )
Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Euteleosteomorpha
Subcohors: Neoteleostei
Infracohors: Eurypterygia
Sectio: Ctenosquamata
Subsectio: Acanthomorphata
Divisio/Superordo: Acanthopterygii
Subdivisio: Percomorphaceae
Series: Pelagiaria
Ordo: Scombriformes
Familia: Stromateidae
Genus: Peprilus
Species: P. burti
The Gulf butterfish (Peprilus burti) is a fish species of the family Stromateidae found in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast of the Eastern United States.[2]
Description
This species is distinguished by the following characters: oval body, deep (its depth less than 2.5 times in total length) and strongly compressed; eyes surrounded by a small area of adipose tissue; short and blunt snout, lower jaw projecting somewhat beyond upper; small mouth, tip of maxillary not reaching below eye margin; very small teeth in jaws, in one row while those in the upper jaw flattened and with three tiny cusps; very long dorsal and anal fin bases (about equal in length), elevated anterior fin rays, but fins not falcate, and both fins preceded by three short, weak, spines; deeply forked caudal fin; long pectoral fins (longer than head) and pointed; absent pelvic fins; distinct series of 17 to 25 pores along anterior half of body under the dorsal fin; high lateral line, following dorsal profile; small scales, present also on cheeks; caudal vertebrae 16 to 18; pale blue body color above, silvery below (fading after death), no spots.[3]
Diet
Adults feed on jellyfish, small fish, crustaceans, and worms; the juveniles are plankton and jellyfish feeders.[3]
Habitat
Gulf butterfish form large loose schools across the continental shelf over sand/mud bottoms; depth ranges from 2 to 275 m at least, but are most abundant at 155 to 225 m. They are found near the bottom during the day, and migrate into the water column at night. Juveniles are often found under floating weeds and with jellyfish.[3]
Reproduction and life cycle
Gulf butterfish mature within one year and rarely live past two years; spawning takes place at discrete intervals twice a year slightly offshore.[3]
Distribution
The Gulf butterfish inhabits the Western Atlantic Ocean, including the entire Gulf of Mexico from the Tampa region in Florida, USA to Yucatan in Mexico. It also occurs on the eastern seaboard from Virginia to northeastern Florida, USA.[3]
Importance to humans
The Gulf butterfish is highly esteemed for food. It is marketed fresh or frozen, and caught mainly with otter trawls.[3]
References
Dooley, J.; Collette, B.B.; Pina Amargos, F. & Russell, B. (2015). "Peprilus burti". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T16759571A16781928. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T16759571A16781928.en.
Page, L.M., Espinosa-Perez, L.T. Findley, C.R. Gilbert, R.N. Lea, N.E. Mandrak, R.L. Mayden, and J.S. Nelson. 2013. Common and scientific names of the fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, 7th edition. American Fishes Society, Special Publication 34, Bethesda Maryland.
Haedrich, R.L., 2003. Stromateidae. Butterfishes (harvestfishes). p. 1879-1884. In K.E. Carpenter (ed.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Vol. 3: Bony fishes part 2 (Opistognathidae to Molidae), sea turtles and marine mammals.
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