Scientific Name
Chelidonichthys capensis

Common Name
Cape gurnard

Biology
Found over sandy and muddy bottoms in coastal areas. Feeds on fishes (Ref. 4316) and crustaceans (Ref. 5213). Excellent food fish (Ref. 4316).

Classification

Classified By

Cuvier, 1829

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Searobins (Triglidae)

Distribution

Region

Southeast Atlantic and Western Indian Ocean

Distribution

Southeast Atlantic and Western Indian Ocean: Cape Fria, Namibia to Maputo, Mozambique. The record of a specimen from Reunion (MHNRUN 36) is probably erroneous (Ref. 33390).

Range

17°S - 45°S

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

390 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 10 - 390 m (Ref. 4316)

Trophic Level

4.21 s.e. 0.70 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

75.0 cm

Common Length

35.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5020 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (65 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.14; tm=2-5; tmax=12)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated