Pristipomoides aquilonaris (Goode & Bean, 1896)
Wenchman
photo by Baldwin, C.C.

Family:  Lutjanidae (Snappers), subfamily: Etelinae
Max. size:  56 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,990.0 g
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 24 - 370 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Canada (Ref. 5951) to North Carolina, USA and the Caribbean Sea to Santa Catarina, Brazil (Ref. 57756).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-8. Interorbital space flat. The eyes large, its orbit almost touching head profile. Scale rows on back running parallel to the lateral line. Back and upper sides pink to reddish, becoming pink to silvery-white on belly; the fins are translucent to pinkish except for the outer part of the caudal and dorsal fins which are yellowish.
Biology:  A deep-water species. Feeds mainly on small fishes. A good food fish, it is marketed fresh, rarely frozen.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 March 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  reports of ciguatera poisoning


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