Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Sparidae (Porgies)
Etymology: Lagodon: Greek, lagos = hare + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal. Subtropical; 43°N - 20°N
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 13.1, range 9 - 17.3 cm
Max length : 40.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3815); common length : 18.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3815); max. published weight: 1.5 kg (Ref. 40637)
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts (USA), Bermuda, and northern Gulf of Mexico to Florida Keys, USA and Yucatan, Mexico. Also in northern coast of Cuba; absent in Bahamas or rest of Antilles (Ref. 26938).
Commonly found on vegetated bottoms, occasionally over rocky bottoms and in mangrove areas. Enters brackish water and even freshwaters. Often forms large aggregations. Feeds mainly on small animals, especially crustaceans, but also takes mollusks, worms and occasionally small fishes that are associated with the grassy habitat.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray, 1986. A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes; bait: usually
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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01432 (-0.02194 - 0.05058), b=3.05 (3.03 - 3.07), based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±0.5 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=7; k >0.30).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (34 of 100) .