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Hypoplectrus chlorurus (Cuvier, 1828) Yellowtail hamlet |
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photo by
Randall, J.E. |
| Family: | Serranidae (Sea basses: groupers and fairy basslets) | |||
| Max. size: | 15 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 51.5 g | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 23 m | |||
| Distribution: | Western Central Atlantic: rare along the most of the continental western Caribbean, becoming occasional in the vicinity of Panama; Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Lesser Antilles, and islands off Venezuela. Absent from Florida, Marquesas Keys and the Dry Tortugas (USA); records from Texas, USA are almost certainly misidentified juveniles of Epinephelus sp. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Body blackish in color (intensity of the black can vary from bluish to brownish). All fins pigmented. Pectoral fins rarely yellow. Caudal fin bright yellow. | |||
| Biology: | A solitary species (Ref. 26340) found near the bottom of coral rich areas (Ref. 9710). Feeds on crustaceans and fishes (Ref. 26180). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 August 2012 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||