''Serranus tigrinus'', the harlequin bass, is a species of marine
ray-finned fish, a sea bass from the
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
Serraninae
The Serraninae is a subfamily of perciform ray-finned fishes in the family Serranidae. It is made up of ten genera and 87 species.
Characters
The fishes in the subfamily Serraninae, the serranines, are small species within the family Serranidae. ...
, which is a part of the
family Serranidae, which also includes the
groupers and the
anthias
Anthias are members of the family Serranidae and make up the subfamily Anthiinae. Anthias make up a sizeable portion of the population of pink, orange, and yellow reef fishes seen swarming in most coral reef photography and film. The name Anthi ...
. It can be found in the western Atlantic Ocean, and also in
aquarium
An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ...
trades.
Description
''Serranus tigrinus'' has a laterally compressed elongate body with a pointed snout which is shorter than the diameter of the eye. It has 3 clearly visible spines on the gill cover, the middle spine being straight. The margins of the preopercle are regularly serrated but there are no spines at its angle. The
dorsal fin has 10 spines and 12 soft rays while the
anal fin
Fins are distinctive anatomical features composed of bony spines or rays protruding from the body of a fish. They are covered with skin and joined together either in a webbed fashion, as seen in most bony fish, or similar to a flipper, as se ...
contains 3 spines and 7 soft rays. The
caudal fin is slightly concave.
This species has a black and white mottle pattern on its back and a yellow and black mottled pattern on the lower body.
A black strip runs from the snout through the eye, and the chin and throat have large black blotches on a white background. There are 8 vertical black bars, 2 on the nape and 6 on the body. The caudal fin has a black bar at its base and the membrane is marked with black spots. The dorsal fin has two lines of black spots along it while the base of the anal fin has a single line of black spots.
[ The maximum published total length is .][
]
Distribution
''Serranus tigrinus'' is a species of the western Atlantic Ocean where it is found throughout the Caribbean
The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...
from southern Florida to Trinidad and Tobago, including the mainland coast from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico to Venezuela.[
]
Habitat and biology
''Serranus tigrinus'' is normally encountered as individuals or in pairs in the rocky parts of reefs or where there is scattered coral.[ It is a carnivorous species, and hunts by drawing prey, usually small crustaceans, into its large mouth and swallowing it whole.][ This species is a synchronous hermaphrodite, which means that they have both male and female reproductive organs and can take on a male or female role in spawning; self fertilisation is possible as well.][
]
Taxonomy
''Serranus tigrinus'' was first formally described in 1790 as ''Holocentrus tigrinus'' by the German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
physician and naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch (1723–1799) with the type locality given in error as the "Indian Ocean".
Utilisation
''Serranus tigrinus'' is found in the aquarium trade.[
]
References
External links
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1921630
harlequin bass
Fish of the Caribbean
harlequin bass