Teleostei (teleosts) >
Acanthuriformes (Surgeonfishes) >
Ephippidae (Spadefishes, batfishes and scats)
Etymology: Chaetodipterus: Greek, chaite = hair + Greek, dipteros = with two fins (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Girard.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 50 m (Ref. 37955). Subtropical; 33°N - 15°S, 118°W - 76°W
Eastern Pacific: San Diego, California, USA to Peru.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 65.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2850); common length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 55763)
Body very deep and compressed; head short, with a slopping, slightly concave profile; mouth small and terminal; snout blunt and not at all prominent; posterior end of jaw not surpassing anterior rim of eye; branchiostegal membranes joined to isthmus; dorsal fin spines well developed (Ref. 55763).
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep.
Found in inshore areas with sandy bottoms or coral reefs, forming small schools (Ref. 9299). Feeds on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 37955). Minimum depth reported from Ref. 2850.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann, 1983. A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Boston (MA, USA): Houghton Mifflin Company. xii+336 p. (Ref. 2850)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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