Orthopristis chrysoptera (Linnaeus, 1766)
Pigfish
photo by Flescher, D.

Family:  Haemulidae (Grunts), subfamily: Haemulinae
Max. size:  46 cm SL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 900.0 g; max. reported age: 4 years
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range - 10 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: New York, USA and Bermuda to Mexico.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 12-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 12-13. Back elevated; snout long and tapering. Mouth a little oblique; maxillary reaching vertical from first nostril. Scales in oblique rows above lateral line and horizontal rows below lateral line, extending on base of caudal, pelvic and pectoral fins; also forming a low sheath on base of anal and dorsal fins.
Biology:  Inhabits coastal waters, over sand and mud bottoms. Forms schools. Mainly nocturnal and non-burrowing. Feeds on crustaceans and smaller fishes. Undergoes seasonal migration as well as local nocturnal-diurnal foraging migrations (Ref. 25).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 March 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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