Information from FAO Species Identification Guide Western Central Atlantic

 

Atlantic spadfish - Chaetodipterus faber

 

Diagnostic characters: Body deep, included 1.2 to 1.5 times in standard length, orbicular, strongly
compressed. Mouth small, terminal, jaws provided with bands of brush-like teeth, outer row larger and
slightly compressed but pointed at tip. Vomer and palatines toothless. Preopercular margin finely serrate;
opercle ends in blunt point. Dorsal fin with 9 spines and 21 to 23 soft rays. Spinous portion of dorsal fin low
in adults, distinct fromsoft-rayed portion; anterior portion of soft dorsal and anal fins prolonged.Juveniles
with third dorsal fin spine prolonged, becoming proportionately smaller with age. Anal fin with 3 spines
and 18 or 19 rays. Pectoral fins short, about 1.6 in head, with 17 or 18 soft rays. Caudal fin emarginate. Pelvic
fins long, extending to origin of anal fin in adults, beyond that in young. Lateral-line scales 45 to 50. Head and
fins scaled. Colour: silvery grey with blackish bars (bars may fade in large individuals) as follows: Eye bar
extends from nape through eye to chest; first body bar starts at predorsal area, crosses body behind pectoral
fin insertion, and ends on abdomen; second body bar incomplete, extending from anterior dorsal-fin spines
vertically toward abdomen but ending just below level of pectoral-fin base; third body bar extends from anterior
rays of dorsal fin across body to anterior rays of anal fin; last body bar runs from the middle soft dorsal fin rays to
middle soft anal-fin rays; last bar crosses caudal peduncle at caudal-fin base. Young entirely dark brown or
blackish with white mottling; caudal fin, pectoral fins, and edges of soft dorsal and anal fins hyaline.

Size: Maximum to 1 m, commonly to 50 cm.

Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Inhabits a variety of different habitats along shallow coastal waters, including
reefs, mangroves, sandy beaches, harbours, around wrecks and pilings, and under bridges. They are often
seen in large schools of more than 500 adult individuals. Juveniles are apt to be encountered around mangroves
in their dark coloration with white mottling. This cryptic coloration, when combined with the juveniles’
habit of floating tilted on its side, mimics the dead mangrove leaves and possibly other floating objects making
the fish difficult to detect. Fish even up to a foot in length may take on the dark colour and float tilted on their
sides over the light coloured sand. The barred forms are almost always vertically oriented. Feeds on a variety
of invertebrates, both benthic and planktonic, as well as algae. Adult spadefish will readily take a baited hook and have a firm, well-flavoured flesh. There is no extensive fishery for them. Juveniles are occasionally caught for the live topical fish hobby market, but are not as greatly prized as many of the more colourful reef species.

Distribution: Massachusetts to southeastern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico. Introduced to Bermuda.