Husbandry
(Poey, 1860)
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda, Caribbean (mainly insular localities), and Brazil.
Biology
Found mainly on rocky or coral bottoms from the shoreline to at least 55 m depth; small and middle-sized individuals commonly occur in mangrove-lined lagoons.
Feeds on fishes. Sex-reversal observed.
More common in island waters than along the coast.
The tricolored pattern of the juveniles mimics that of the juveniles of the clown wrasse, Halichoeres maculipinna.
The aggressive mimic’s behavior includes folding down the median and caudal fins, which adds to its wrasse imitation and allows it to approach its otherwise wary prey.
Marketed fresh; flesh is of good quality.
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
Synonymised taxa:
Labrus gvaza Linnaeus, 1758 (synonym)
Mycteroperca calliura Poey, 1865
Mycteroperca dimidiata (Poey, 1860)
Mycteroperca falcata (Poey, 1860)
Mycteroperca roquensis Martín Salazar, 1956
Serranus dimidiatus Poey, 1860
Serranus falcatus Poey, 1860
Serranus interstitialis Poey, 1860
Trisotropis chlorostomus Poey, 1867
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda, Caribbean (mainly insular localities), and Brazil.
Biology
Found mainly on rocky or coral bottoms from the shoreline to at least 55 m depth; small and middle-sized individuals commonly occur in mangrove-lined lagoons.
Feeds on fishes. Sex-reversal observed.
More common in island waters than along the coast.
The tricolored pattern of the juveniles mimics that of the juveniles of the clown wrasse, Halichoeres maculipinna.
The aggressive mimic’s behavior includes folding down the median and caudal fins, which adds to its wrasse imitation and allows it to approach its otherwise wary prey.
Marketed fresh; flesh is of good quality.
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable
Synonymised taxa:
Labrus gvaza Linnaeus, 1758 (synonym)
Mycteroperca calliura Poey, 1865
Mycteroperca dimidiata (Poey, 1860)
Mycteroperca falcata (Poey, 1860)
Mycteroperca roquensis Martín Salazar, 1956
Serranus dimidiatus Poey, 1860
Serranus falcatus Poey, 1860
Serranus interstitialis Poey, 1860
Trisotropis chlorostomus Poey, 1867
