Sand tilefish
📖 Overview
Primarily a shallow-water benthic species found on sand and rubble bottoms . Builds mounds of rubble and shell fragments near reefs and grass beds; enters its mound head first when frightened . Feeds mainly on stomatopods, fishes, polychaete worms, chitons, sea urchins, sea stars, amphipods and shrimps . Tends to bite when handled . Marketed fresh . Between 1995 and 2000, at least 7 specimens have been traded as aquarium fish at Ceará, Brazil .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 4 - 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 53 - 57; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 50 - 52. Caudal fin lunate.: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Sand tilefish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 10 - 153 m , usually 10 - 50 m . Subtropical; 34°N - 8°S North Carolina (USA), Gulf of Mexico, and throughout the Caribbean to Rio de la Plata, Uruguay.
🌿 Ecology
stomatopods, fishes, polychaete worms, chitons, sea urchins, sea stars, amphipods and shrimps (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Muttonfish · Sand Eel · Sand tilefish · Sandfish · slang-dang · Whitey · Whiting |
| 🌍CES | štíhlice Plumierova |
| 🇫🇷French | Matajuel blanc · Vive · Vive tropicale |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Bom-nome · Peixe-torpedo-do-Atlântico · Pirá |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Песчаный малакант |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Blanquillo · Carajuelo Blanco · Chivato · Doncella · Jolocho · Jorocho · Matajuelo · matajuelo blanco · matejuelo blanco · Sandtilefish · Víbora |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 帕氏弱棘魚 · 長體弱棘魚 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coryphaena plumieri | Bloch | 1786 | Synonym |
| Dikellorhynchus tropidolepis | Berry | 1958 | Synonym |
| Malacanthus trachinus | Valenciennes | 1841 | Synonym |
| Sparus oblongus | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 37 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Sand tilefish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.