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Bighead sand perch (Diplectrum euryplectrum) — Serranidae

Bighead sand perch

Diplectrum euryplectrum
Family: Serranidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Bighead sand perch (Diplectrum euryplectrum) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
15.0–150.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The bighead sand perch is a small sand perch from the eastern Pacific, off the coast of Central and South America. The species grows to about 20 cm and has an elongate, sand-coloured body with fine stripes and a fairly large head. As a bottom-dweller it lives on sand and mud bottoms of the continental shelf between about 15 and 150 metres and hunts small crustaceans, worms and fish. Like other sand perches it is a simultaneous hermaphrodite carrying both sexes at once. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bighead sand perch?

The Bighead sand perch has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a horizontal stripes pattern.

Where does the Bighead sand perch live?

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

How big does the Bighead sand perch get?

The Bighead sand perch grows to a maximum of about 20 cm. On average the species is around 15 cm.

Is the Bighead sand perch dangerous to humans?

No, the Bighead sand perch is harmless to humans.

Is the Bighead sand perch edible?

The Bighead sand perch is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Grootkop-zandbaars verified
English name
Bighead sand perch verified
Scientific name
Diplectrum euryplectrum
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Bighead sand perch verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Average length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin 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)
15.0 verified
Max depth (m)
150.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Simultaneous hermaphrodite sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
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 Diplectrum

More from the family Serranidae

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