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Slope bass (Symphysanodon berryi) — Symphysanodontidae

Slope bass

Symphysanodon berryi
LC · Least Concern

The Slope bass (Symphysanodon berryi) is a saltwater fish of the family Symphysanodontidae that grows up to 30 cm.

Length
29.6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
101.0–476.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

Berry's slope bass is a small deep-water bass from the western Atlantic. The species grows to about 30 cm and has a slender, pink to reddish body with large eyes and a deeply forked tail. It lives in schools above the deeper continental slope, around rocky and hard bottoms, and catches zooplankton in the water column. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Slope bass?

The Slope bass has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly red-orange and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Slope bass live?

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

How big does the Slope bass get?

The Slope bass grows to a maximum of about 30 cm. On average the species is around 10 cm.

Is the Slope bass dangerous to humans?

No, the Slope bass is harmless to humans.

Is the Slope bass edible?

The Slope bass is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Berrys hellingbaars verified
English name
Slope bass verified
Scientific name
Symphysanodon berryi
Family
Symphysanodontidae
Other names
Slope bass verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
29.6 verified
Average length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

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

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes 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 Symphysanodon

More from the family Symphysanodontidae

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