Scientific Name
Equetus lanceolatus

Common Name
Jack-knifefish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 47-55; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 16. Very high first dorsal fin with a short base (Ref. 26938). Gray with three white-edged dark brown to black bands, the first running vertically through eye, the second from nape across operculum and chest to front of pelvic fins, and the last beginning on first dorsal fin and running to end of caudal fin (Ref. 13442). Third and widest band from tip of high dorsal fin, curving along length of body to tip of tail (Ref. 26938).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Drums or croakers (Sciaenidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Bermuda and North Carolina, USA to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Ref. 57756).

Range

37°N - 16°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

60 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 10 - 60 m (Ref. 7251)

Trophic Level

3.43 s.e. 0.51 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

25.0 cm

Common Length

15.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.7500 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (22 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30303)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated