Common names from other countries
Classification / Names / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Benthic; depth range 2 - 73 m (Ref. 83934), usually ? - 30 m (Ref. 97646). Tropical; 33°N - 2°S, 97°W - 45°W
Western Atlantic: South Carolina to Brazil.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 2 - ? cm Max length : 30.0 cm SHL male/unsexed; (Ref. 105315); max. published weight: 3.3 kg (Ref. 105296); max. reported age: 30 years (Ref. 126618)
Shell large, with relatively large spire, flared outer lip with posterior expansion projecting well beyond spire length. Spire taller than other species in genus. Sculpture of sharp knobs along shoulder. Colour: pale tan with thin brown periostracum. Internal shell colour deep pink.
The fisheries have grown exponentially in the last 30 years, with resulting declines in population and area closures. The species has been included on appendix 2 of CITES (Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species). International trade is allowed only from nations in which the populations of the species are not under threat from commercial fishing (Ref. 355). Maximum weight from Ref. 97674 cited in Ref. 105296.
Copulation may precede spawning. Spawning occurs on a type of calcareous sand formed from the fragmentation of coral reefs, including large quantities of calcareous skeletal remains from small molluscs and calcareous algae. Females deposit the egg mass on the substrate (Ref. 105320). Life cycle: Eggs hatch into veligers after 3-5 days which feed on phytoplankton; after 21 days they undergo metamorphosis (juvenile stage) where they remain buried in the sand and emerge in seagrass beds to feed; adults return to the shallow inshore waters to spawn.
Leal, J.H. 2003. (Ref. 355)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
CITES status (Ref. 108899)
Not Evaluated
Human uses
Fisheries: highly commercial
| FIRMS (Stock assessments) | FishSource | Sea Around Us
Tools
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature
(Ref.
115969): 25.3 - 28, mean 27 (based on 146 cells).
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.25-0.71; tm=3-4; tmax=30).
Prior r = 0.97, 95% CL = 0.64 - 1.45, Based on 4 data-limited stock assessments.
Vulnerability
Moderate vulnerability (43 of 100).
