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🌊 Marine 🌡️ Subtropical

Black fathead

Cubiceps baxteri McCulloch, 1923
Max Length
100 cm
Max Weight
Lifespan
Trophic Level
3.4
Depth
1–100 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
50.00/100
Typical Length
Depth Zone
pelagic

📖 Overview

An oceanic, epipelagic to mesopelagic species . Feeds mainly on salps . Potentially valuable food fish in warm temperate and tropical areas of the Indo-Pacific . May be caught using a pelagic trawl .

Scientific Name
Cubiceps baxteri
Authority
McCulloch, 1923
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Max Length
100 cm
Depth Range
1–100 m
Latitude
47°S – 32°N
Trophic Level
3.4
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
50.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20 - 24; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 19 - 22; Vertebrae: 31. Dark brown in color, large specimens black; median fins dark, pectorals pale; eye blue .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Black fathead is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Black fathead is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Black fathead is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 1 - 100 m . Subtropical; 32°N - 47°S Indian Ocean.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🐟 Pelagic
Trophic Level
3.4±0.4
Food Items

salps (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00851 × L3.13 (TL)
Max TL
100cm
Dorsal Spines
12
Dorsal Rays
22
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
21
Vertebrae
31

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
50.00/100
Moderate-High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.4
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Latitude Range
32°N – 47°S
Described By
McCulloch, 1923

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Black Cigarfish · Black Cubehead · Black fathead · cigarfish · Cubehead
🇯🇵Japanese Okimedai · オキメダイ
🇵🇹Portuguese Peixe-derivante-cigarro

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 25 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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