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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🎣 Game Fish ⚡ Reports of ciguatera poisoning 🌡️ Tropical

Small toothed jobfish

Aphareus furca Lacepède, 1801
Max Length
70 cm
Max Weight
Lifespan
9 yrs
Trophic Level
4.1
Depth
0–122 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
36.00/100
Typical Length
25 cm
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Adults inhabit inshore coral and rocky reefs and in clear waters of lagoons . Pelagic and benthopelagic . Occur singly or in small groups. Feed mainly on fishes, but also eat crustaceans. Individuals with brilliant yellow on head may be nuptial males . Often curious and approachable . Marketed fresh. Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

Scientific Name
Aphareus furca
Authority
Lacepède, 1801
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
70 cm
Lifespan
9 years
Depth Range
0–122 m
Latitude
31°S – 35°N
Trophic Level
4.1
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
36.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. : fusiform / normal; Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Small toothed jobfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Small toothed jobfish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Small toothed jobfish is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 122 m . Tropical; 35°N - 31°S, 35°E - 134°W East Africa to the Hawaiian Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
4.1±0.73
Food Items

fishes, but also eat crustaceans

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01738 × L2.95 (TL)
Max TL
70cm
Dorsal Spines
10
Dorsal Rays
11
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
8

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2015

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
36.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
4.1
Apex / Top predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
35°N – 31°S
Described By
Lacepède, 1801

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Small-toothed Jobfish is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
  • Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
  • Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
  • Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
  • Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Per 100g cooked — Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 19.1 g
Omega-3 (total) 148 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Small toothed jobfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Bigmouth Snapper · Blue Smalltooth Job · Blue Smalltooth Jobfish · Fork-tailed Snapper Fish · Forktail Snapper · Jobfish · Small toothed jobfish · Small-tooth Jobfish · Small-toothed jobfish · Smallmouth Jobfish · Smalltooth Jobfish · Smalltooth Jobfish, Small toothed jobfish · Snapper Jobbyfish · Smalltoothed Jobfish
🌍CES chňapal malozubý
🇩🇰Danish Småtandet snapper
🇫🇷French Aphareus bleuâtre · Lantanier · Latanier · Perche ardoise · Vivaneau Bleu · Vivaneau tidents · Vivaneau tridents · Vivaneau à Queue Fourchue
🇮🇹Italian Lutiano denti piccoli
🇯🇵Japanese Ishifuedai · イシフエダイ
🌍MSA Kerisi bali
🇵🇹Portuguese Caranha-de-Bali
🇷🇺Russian Вильчатый афарей
🇪🇸Spanish Pargo boquidulce · Pargo de boca grande
🌍TAH paru, paru a'ahi, paru a'au
🌍TGL Bisugo
🇨🇳Chinese 叉尾鯛 · 叉尾鲷 · 小齒藍鯛 · 欖色細齒笛鯛

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Aphareus caerulescens Cuvier 1830 Synonym
Aphareus flavivultus Jenkins 1901 Synonym
Aphareus furcatus Lacepède 1801 Synonym
Caranxomorus sacrestinus Lacepède 1803 Synonym
Labrus furca Lacepède 1801 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 5 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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