Harlequin Bass

Serranus tigrinus is a species of fish in the family Serranidae, which includes the groupers.

Description

It has unique pointed snout and distinct color pattern make it easy to identify. It has an unusual striking yellow and black mottled mottled color on the ventral side, with black and white mottling on the dorsal half. Head and body white above, yellowish below; a black stripe front snout through eye, large black blotches on lower head and  throat. Around 8 black bars, 2 on rear of head, 6 on the body; tail fin with black bar at base, black spots on rest of fin; dorsal fin with two rows of black spots; anal fin with a row of black spots along its base. It grows to a size of 29 centimeters in length.

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Bermuda and southern Florida, USA to northern South America; throughout the Caribbean. Including Antilles.

Habitat

Serranus tigrinus is normally encountered as individuals or as pairs in the rocky parts of reefs or where there is scattered coral. It is found at depths of 0 to 40 metres (0 to 131 ft). It is a carnivorous species which draws prey who into its large mouth and swallows it whole. The prey is mainly crustaceans. This species is a synchronous hermaphrodite, which means that they have male and female reproductive organs and can take on a male or female role in spawning, or even that self fertilisation is possible. However, they live as monogamous pairs.