Home · Serranidae · Greater sand perch
Greater sand perch (Diplectrum maximum) — Serranidae

Greater sand perch

Diplectrum maximum
Family: Serranidae
LC · Least Concern

The Greater sand perch (Diplectrum maximum) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 37 cm.

Length
37 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The greater sand perch is a fish of the family Serranidae from the eastern Pacific, along the coast of Central and South America. The species reaches about 37 cm and has an elongate, brownish body with dark cross-bands and blue lines on the head. It lives demersally to benthopelagically over soft bottoms of the continental shelf. The diet consists of small fishes and crustaceans. Like other sand perches the species is a synchronous (simultaneous) hermaphrodite, possessing male and female gonads at the same time. Little is known about the precise ecology of this species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Greater sand perch?

The Greater sand perch has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Greater sand perch live?

The Greater sand perch lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Greater sand perch get?

The Greater sand perch grows to a maximum of about 37 cm. On average the species is around 22 cm.

Is the Greater sand perch dangerous to humans?

No, the Greater sand perch is harmless to humans.

Is the Greater sand perch edible?

The Greater sand perch is rarely eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Grote zandbaars sourced
English name
Greater sand perch verified
Scientific name
Diplectrum maximum
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Torpedo sand perch verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
37.0 verified
Average length (cm)
22.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Vertical bars inferred
Tail shape
Straight 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
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

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

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →