Alphestes afer (Bloch, 1793)

Mutton hamlet

Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL

Classification	Actinopterygii \| Perciformes \| Serranidae \| Epinephelinae
Synonyms	Epinephelus afer, Epinephelus lightfooti, Plectropoma chloropterum, ... more
Common names	Varech, Guaseta, Red nigger hamlet, ... more

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AquaMaps Data sources: GBIF OBIS

Main reference

Heemstra, P.C. and J.E. Randall. 1993. (Ref. 5222)
Other references | Biblio | Coordinator : Heemstra, Phillip C. | Collaborators

Size / Weight / Age

Max length : 33.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5222)

Environment

Reef-associated; non-migratory; marine; depth range 2 - 30 m (Ref. 9710)

Climate / Range

Tropical; 32°N - 27°S, 86°W - 32°W (Ref. 5222)

Western Atlantic: Bermuda, south Florida (USA), Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, Cuba, West Indies, Panama, Venezuela, and southward to the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Alphestes afer has recently been re-discovered at São Tomé in the Gulf of Guinea of the Eastern Atlantic.
Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Short description

Dorsal spines (total): 11; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17 - 20; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10. Diagnosis: Body depth is slightly less than head length, depth contained 2.4-3.1 (2.9) in standard length; caudal peduncle depth 7.0-9.0 (8.5) times in SL; eye diameter greater than or equal to snout length and 8.1-15.0 (13) times in SL; snout length 10.1-16.0 (16.0) times in SL; preopercle rounded, posterior edge serrate, with a large antrorse spine at the angle directed downward and forward and usually covered with skin. Gill rakers 5-8 (7) on upper limb, 14-17 (16) on lower limb, 19-25 (23) total, including rudiments. Dorsal fin with XI spines and 17 to 20 (18) soft rays, anal fin with III spines and 9, rarely 10 (10) soft rays; pectoral fins with 16 - 18 (17) rays; caudal fin rounded, with 15 branched rays. Scales are smooth. Lateral-line scales 49-66; lateral scale series 68 – 88 (76). Color in life; head, body, and median fins olivaceous or light brown, irregularly blotched and barred with dark brown. Some individuals are densely spotted with orange; head, body, and all fins often with scattered white spots; body sometimes covered with scattered small black dots; pectoral fins may be orange or yellow with faint dark reticulations (Ref. 57865).

A solitary species (Ref. 26340) occurring in seagrass habitats. Sedentary during the day, hiding in crevices or lying among seaweed, sometimes partly covering itself with sand while lying on its side. Nocturnal feeders of benthic crustaceans. Estimated eggs per fish is from 157512 to 223706 (Ref. 29). Small, colorful group; a sequential hermaphrodite (Ref. 26938). Has been traded as an aquarium fish at Ceará, Brazil (Ref. 49392).


IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 57073)	Threat to humans
Least Concern (LC)	Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30303)

Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial


More information
Countries FAO areas Ecosystems Occurrences Introductions Ecology Diet Food items Food consumption Ration	Common names Synonyms Metabolism Predators Ecotoxicology Reproduction Maturity Spawning Eggs Egg development	Age/Size Growth Length-weight Length-length Length-frequencies Morphometrics Morphology Larvae Larval dynamics Recruitment	Other references Biblio Aquaculture Aquaculture profile Strains Genetics Allele frequencies Heritability Diseases Processing	Collaborators Pictures Stamps Sounds Ciguatera Speed Swim. type Gill area Otoliths Brains Vision

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Summary page \| Point data \| Common names \| Photos

Internet sources

Estimation of some characteristics with mathematical models

Resilience (Ref. 69278)

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Fec=150,000-220,000)


Vulnerability (Ref. 59153)	Price category (Ref. 80766)
Low to moderate vulnerability (33 of 100)	Very high

Entered by Capuli, Estelita Emily

Modified by Garilao, Cristina V.

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Page last modified by : elaxamana, 15 July 2009

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