bio.wikisort.org - Animal

The Pacific spadefish (Chaetodipterus zonatus) is a species of fish of the family Ephippidae. It is native to the eastern Pacific, from San Diego, California to Peru,[2] including is the Galápagos Islands where it is known as Chambo.[3]

Chaetodipterus zonatus
A school of Pacific Spadefish, Sta. Catalina, Panama.
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Acanthuriformes
Family:	Ephippidae
Genus:	Chaetodipterus
Species:	C. zonatus
Binomial name
Chaetodipterus zonatus (Girard, 1858)
Synonyms
Ephippus zonatus Girard, 1858

Appearance

C. zonatus has a very deep, compressed body with a blunt snout and a sloping, slightly concave profile. It has a small mouth with the posterior end of the jaw not passing the front of the eye. The maximum recorded size was 65 cm but more commonly reach a length of 25 cm.[2]

They have six black bars on their head and the side of their body, although in large adults these can be difficult to see.[4] Their dorsal fin is large and set well back on their body, the anal fin is opposite and of a similar shape; both have long spines. The pectoral and pelvic fins are small and the caudal fin is large and lunate. All the fins are black in colour.[5]

Habitat

C. zonatus is found in subtropical inshore seas, in areas with coral reefs or sandy bottoms, between 3–50 m.[2] They have also been seen occasionally in estuaries, mangroves and lagoons.[1] They normally form small schools and feed on benthic invertebrates.[2]

References

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