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• Taxonomy
• Physical Description
• Distribution
• Habitat
• Similar Species
• Bibliography
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Overview:

Family: Bigeyes or catalufas; Occurs mostly at depths of 100 m or more and has been captured at night at relatively shallow depths (9-46 m). More common around islands (records from the continental coasts are rare) (Ref. 9335). Inhabits rocky bottoms but many specimens have been trawled from relatively open waters in Hawaii. Gonads of specimens collected in Hawaii in November appear to be near spawning condition.

Taxonomy

Misapplied Names:

1. Priacanthus hamrur (Forssk�l, 1775)

Notes:

Name Status: Accepted Name.

Physical Description

Family Priacanthidae:

Tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Eyes very big, with a brilliant reflective layer (tapetum lucidum). Mouth big and superior (strongly oblique). Dorsal fin spines usually 10; soft rays 10-15. Three spines in anal fin; soft rays 9-16. Caudal fin slightly emarginate to rounded. Sixteen principal rays in caudal fin (2 unbranched). Inner rays of pelvic fin attached to body by a membrane. Scales very rough with integral spines, usually bright red in color. Epibenthic and generally associated with rock formations or coral reefs; a few species are often trawled in more open areas; usually carnivorous and nocturnal. Eggs, larvae and early juvenile stages are pelagic. Typically less than 30 cm TL, but largest species attains more than 50 cm maximum length. Used as foodfish.

The family Priacanthidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Perciformes. It contains 4 genera and 18 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine. Members of this family are not used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is subcarangiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. Members of this family have been dated back to the middle Eocene epoch of the Tertiary period. Etymology of this family name: Greek, prioo = to bit + Greek, akantha = thorn

Images:

Distribution

Range and Population

Eastern Central Pacific: Hawaiian Islands, off Baja California, and the Revillagigedo Island. Probably more widely distributed.

Habitat

Biome

Saltwater. Demersal.

Similar Species

Members of the genus Priacanthus:

There are approximately 33 species and subspecies in this genus: P. alalalia · P. alalaua (Alalaua) · P. alta · P. arenathus · P. arenatus (Atlantic Big-Eye) · HeteroP. cruentatus · P. bayenus · P. macracanthus · P. blochi · P. blochii (Paeony Bulleye) · HeteroP. cruentatus · Cookeolus japonicus · P. cruentatas · P. cruentatushus · P. fitchi · P. arenatus · P. hamruhr · P. hamrukr · P. hamrur (Bigeye) · P. hamurur · HeteroP. cruentatus · P. macracanthus (Bigeye) · P. macrocanthus · P. meeki (Hawaiian Bigeye) · P. nasca · P. niphonus · P. prolixus (Elongate Bulleye) · P. sagittarius (Arrow Bulleye) · P. sp1 · P. spa · P. spb · P. tayenus (Purple Spotted Bigeye) · P. zaiserae

Bibliography

• Myers, R.F. (1999). Micronesian reef fishes: a comprehensive guide to the coral reef fishes of Micronesia, 3rd revised and expanded edition. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 330 p.
• Starnes, W.C. (1988). Revision, phylogeny and biogeographic comments on the circumtropical marine percoid fish family Priacanthidae. Bull. Mar. Sci. 43(2):117-203.

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Notes

Contributors:

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 20, 2007.
• Costa, Wilson J.E.M. (from FishBase).
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed February 29, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 6 providers.

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 29, 2008:

• Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum: Bishop Museum Natural History Specimen Data
• FishBase: FishBase DiGIR Provider - Philippine Server
• Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University: Bishop Museum Data (OBIS distribution) (USOBIS)
• Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History: Vertebrate specimens
• Museum national d'histoire naturelle: Ichtyologie
• Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University: MCZ Fish Collection

Identifiers:

• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 168183
• Fishbase Species ID: 9902
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 120527
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 121630