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Blueline tilefish (Caulolatilus microps) — Malacanthidae

Blueline tilefish

Caulolatilus microps
Family: Malacanthidae
LC · Least Concern

The Blueline tilefish (Caulolatilus microps) is a saltwater fish of the family Malacanthidae that grows up to 90 cm.

Length
90 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
30.0–162.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The blueline tilefish is a tilefish from the western Atlantic, along the southeastern coast of the United States and the Gulf of Mexico. The species grows to about 90 cm and has a streamlined, greyish-brown body with a yellow and blue stripe below the eye. As a bottom-dweller it lives over soft and rocky bottoms of the outer continental shelf, between about 30 and 160 metres, often near burrows. It hunts crustaceans, molluscs and small fish. It is a valued food fish. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blueline tilefish?

The Blueline tilefish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Blueline tilefish live?

The Blueline tilefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Blueline tilefish get?

The Blueline tilefish grows to a maximum of about 90 cm. On average the species is around 55 cm.

Is the Blueline tilefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Blueline tilefish is harmless to humans.

Is the Blueline tilefish edible?

Yes, the Blueline tilefish is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Blauwlijn-tegelvis verified
English name
Blueline tilefish verified
Scientific name
Caulolatilus microps
Family
Malacanthidae
Other names
Blueline tilefish; Grey tilefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
90.0 verified
Average length (cm)
55.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
30.0 verified
Max depth (m)
162.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
levensduur_max_jaar
15.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Handlijnen en beuglijnen sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Caulolatilus

More from the family Malacanthidae

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