Citharichthys spilopterus Günther, 1862
Bay whiff
Citharichthys spilopterus
photo by NOAA\NMFS\Mississippi Laboratory

Family:  Cyclopsettidae (Sand whiffs)
Max. size:  21 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 99.4 g
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 75 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: New Jersey, USA to the Antilles and Brazil.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 74-84; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 52-63
Biology:  Occurs in shallow muddy bottoms from the coastline to 75 m depth; also in brackish estuaries and hypersaline lagoons (Ref. 5217). Inhabit mainly coastal waters and tidelands, but abundant in waters very near the sea to a few meters elevation with wholly freshwater ichthyofauna (Ref. 36880). Feeds mainly on zooplankton and zoobenthos (Ref. 13196). Taken with beach nets (Ref. 5217).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 February 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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