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Priacanthus alalaua

(Forskals´s Big-Eye Fish)

Overview

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Family : Bigeyes or catalufas ; Occurs mostly at depths of 100 m or more and has been captured at night at relatively shallow depths (9-46 m). More common around islands (records from the continental coasts are rare) (Ref. 9335). Inhabits rocky bottoms but many specimens have been trawled from relatively open waters in Hawaii. Gonads of specimens collected in Hawaii in November appear to be near spawning condition.

Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in English:

Alalaua, Forskals´s Big-Eye Fish, Forskals's Big-Eye Fish, Hawaiian Bicolor Chromis, Hawaiian Bigeye

Common Names in French:

Beauclaire, Beauclaire Alalaua

Common Names in Hawaiian:

A-La-U-Wa, A-We-O-We-O

Common Names in Samoan:

Alalafutu

Common Names in Spanish:

Catalufa Alalahua, Catalufa Alalaua

Description

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Family Priacanthidae

Tropical and subtropical Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Eyes very big, with a brilliant reflective layer (tapetum lucidum). Mouth big and superior (strongly oblique ). Dorsal fin spines usually 10; soft rays 10-15. Three spines in anal fin; soft rays 9-16. Caudal fin slightly emarginate to rounded . Sixteen principal rays in caudal fin (2 unbranched). Inner rays of pelvic fin attached to body by a membrane . Scales very rough with integral spines, usually bright red in color. Epibenthic and generally associated with rock formations or coral reefs; a few species are often trawled in more open areas; usually carnivorous and nocturnal . Eggs , larvae and early juvenile stages are pelagic . Typically less than 30 cm TL , but largest species attains more than 50 cm maximum length . Used as foodfish.The family Priacanthidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes ) and the Order Perciformes. It contains 4 genera and 18 species. It may be found in Marine environments and is primarily Marine. Members of this family are not used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is subcarangiform. Compared with other fish, the activity level of this family tends to be normal. Members of this family have been dated back to the middle Eocene epoch of the Tertiary period. Etymology of this family name : Greek, prioo = to bit + Greek, akantha = thorn

Habitat

Typically found in water with a depth of 0 to -3,937 meters (0 to -12,917 feet).Mean = -1,016.330 meters (-3,334.416 feet), Standard Deviation = 2,609.330 based on 3 observations. Ocean depth information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre.

Biome: Saltwater . Demersal .

Taxonomy

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Misapplied Names

  1. Priacanthus hamrur (Forssk�l, 1775)

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Priacanthus

There are approximately 27 species in this genus:

P. alalalia · P. alalaua (Alalaua) · P. arenathus · P. arenatus (Atlantic Big-Eye) · Heteropriacanthus cruentatus · P. bayenus · P. macracanthus · P. blochi · P. blochii (Paeony Bulleye) · Heteropriacanthus cruentatus · Cookeolus japonicus · P. cruentatas · P. cruentatushus · P. fitchi · P. arenatus · P. hamruhr · P. hamrur (Bigeye) · Heteropriacanthus cruentatus · P. macracanthus (Bigeye) · P. macrocanthus · P. meeki (Hawaiian Bigeye) · P. nasca · P. prolixus (Elongate Bulleye) · P. sagittarius (Arrow Bulleye) · P. spa · P. tayenus (Purple Spotted Bigeye) · P. zaiserae

Bibliography

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More Info

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 29, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

Last Revised: 2008-11-03