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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Tropical

Blue fathead

Cubiceps caeruleus Regan, 1914
Max Length
28.5 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
4 yrs
Trophic Level
3.6
Depth
20–250 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
22.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
pelagic

📖 Overview

Blue fathead (Cubiceps caeruleus) is a ray-finned fish of the family Nomeidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in pelagic environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 28.5 cm. It occurs at depths between 20 and 250 metres. With a trophic level of 3.6, it is a mid-level predator. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Scientific Name
Cubiceps caeruleus
Authority
Regan, 1914
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
28.5 cm
Lifespan
4 years
Depth Range
20–250 m
Trophic Level
3.6
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
22.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23 - 27; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 21 - 24; Vertebrae: 31. Pale to dark blue-grey, back darker than sides; caudal fin dark, other fins clear .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Blue fathead is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; pelagic-oceanic; depth range 20 - 250 m . Tropical; 19°S - South Atlantic and Pacific.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🐟 Pelagic
Trophic Level
3.6
Food Items

salps

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00955 × L2.88 (TL)
Max TL
28.5cm
Dorsal Spines
12
Dorsal Rays
25
Anal Spines
2
Anal Rays
23
Vertebrae
31

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2013

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
22.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.6
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Regan, 1914

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Cubiceps caerulus Regan 1914 Synonym
Cubiceps coeruleus Regan 1914 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 35 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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