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Serranus tortugarum Longley, 1935 Chalk bass |
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photo by
Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/B. Alenda |
| Family: | Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets) | |||
| Max. size: | 8 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; marine; depth range 12 - 396 m | |||
| Distribution: | Western Atlantic: southern Florida (USA), Bahamas, Honduras and Virgin Islands; probably widespread in Caribbean reef areas. Including Antilles (Ref. 26938). | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 10-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12 | |||
| Biology: | Found over rubble, silty or sandy bottoms (Ref. 9710). Often in small groups hovering over a patch of coral rubble or an old conch shell (Ref. 13442). Feeds on plankton (Ref. 9710). Synchronously hermaphroditic. Difficult to approach (Ref. 9710). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 August 2012 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||