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Tobaccofish (Serranus tabacarius) — Serranidae

Tobaccofish

Serranus tabacarius
Family: Serranidae
LC · Least Concern

The Tobaccofish (Serranus tabacarius) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 22 cm.

Length
22 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
4.0–70.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The tobaccofish is a small seabass from the western Atlantic, ranging from Bermuda and Florida through the Caribbean to Brazil. The species grows to about 22 cm and has a yellowish-brown, tobacco-coloured body with fine markings. It lives on sandy and reef bottoms and hunts small fish and invertebrates. Like other species of the genus Serranus it is a simultaneous hermaphrodite. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Tobaccofish?

The Tobaccofish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Tobaccofish live?

The Tobaccofish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Tobaccofish get?

The Tobaccofish grows to a maximum of about 22 cm. On average the species is around 16 cm.

Is the Tobaccofish dangerous to humans?

No, the Tobaccofish is harmless to humans.

Is the Tobaccofish edible?

The Tobaccofish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Tabaksbaarsje verified
English name
Tobaccofish verified
Scientific name
Serranus tabacarius
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Sandfish; Tobacco fish; Tobaccofish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
22.0 verified
Average length (cm)
16.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
4.0 verified
Max depth (m)
70.0 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
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. 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 Serranus

More from the family Serranidae

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