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Chub (Kyphosus incisor) — Kyphosidae

Chub

Kyphosus incisor
Family: Kyphosidae

The Chub (Kyphosus incisor) is a saltwater fish of the family Kyphosidae that grows up to 90 cm.

Length
90 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–15.0 m
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Atlantic Ocean; shallow rocky and coral reef areas, also among Sargassum.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The yellow sea chub is a sea chub (Kyphosidae) from the Atlantic Ocean. The species has an oval, robust, silvery-grey body with fine yellowish lengthwise lines and a small mouth. It inhabits shallow waters, especially over rocky bottoms of coral reef areas, and is also found among floating Sargassum weed. It lives in schools and grazes mainly on benthic algae, supplemented with small invertebrates. It is a local food fish. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Chub?

The Chub has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Fine yellowish longitudinal lines; shoal-forming algae grazer, also among floating Sargassum.

Where does the Chub live?

The Chub lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Atlantic Ocean; shallow rocky and coral reef areas, also among Sargassum.

How big does the Chub get?

The Chub grows to a maximum of about 90 cm. On average the species is around 45 cm.

Is the Chub dangerous to humans?

No, the Chub is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Chub edible?

Yes, the Chub is commonly eaten.

More photos

Chub (Kyphosus incisor) — Kyphosidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Austin D West, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Chub (Kyphosus incisor) — Kyphosidae — 3
Steen W. Knudsen (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — NHMUK
Chub (Kyphosus incisor) — Kyphosidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Chub (Kyphosus incisor) — Kyphosidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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All data

Identification

English name
Chub verified
Scientific name
Kyphosus incisor
Family
Kyphosidae
Other names
Chub; Yellow chub; Yellow sea chub; Yellow chumb verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
15.0 verified
Natural range
Atlantic Ocean; shallow rocky and coral reef areas, also among Sargassum. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Benthic algae, supplemented with small invertebrates sourced
Social behaviour
Large groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Fine yellowish longitudinal lines; shoal-forming algae grazer, also among floating Sargassum. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Kyphosus

More from the family Kyphosidae

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