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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🎣 Game Fish 🌡️ Subtropical 🎣 Game Fish

Pilotfish

Naucrates ductor Linnaeus, 1758
Max Length
70 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.4
Depth
0–300 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
39.00/100
Typical Length
40 cm
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Oceanic species with a semi-obligate commensal relationship with sharks, rays, other bony fishes and turtles . Young are usually associated with jellyfish and drifting seaweed . Feed on scraps of host's left over, parasites and excrement; also on small fishes and invertebrates . Eggs are pelagic . Marketed fresh and salted or dried . Captured at the surface using hand nets .

Scientific Name
Naucrates ductor
Authority
Linnaeus, 1758
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
70 cm
Depth Range
0–300 m
Latitude
43°S – 61°N
Trophic Level
3.4
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
39.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 5 - 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 25 - 29; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 15 - 17. Body elongate, slender, and not strongly compressed; posterior end of upper jaw located at anterior rim of eye; dorsal fin with 4 or 5 spines followed by another spine and 25 to 29 soft rays (IV-V+I 25-29); lateral line without scutes; caudal peduncle with well developed fleshy keels and with dorsal and ventral peduncular fossae . Body dark to pale bluish, with 6-7 broad, dark bars; white tips on caudal lobes and on second dorsal and anal lobes .: fusiform / normal.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Pilotfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Pilotfish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Pilotfish is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 300 m . Subtropical; 61°N - 43°S, 180°W - 180°E Indian Ocean (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
3.4±0.43
Food Items

scraps of host's left over, parasites and excrement; also on small fishes and invertebrates (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.01413 × L2.93 (TL)
Max TL
70cm
Dorsal Spines
6
Dorsal Rays
27
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
16

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2013

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
39.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.4
Predator
Body Shape
Fusiform / normal
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Latitude Range
61°N – 43°S
Described By
Linnaeus, 1758

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Pilot · Pilotfish · Rudderfish · Sucker · pilot-fish · Pilot Fish
🌍AFR Loodsvis
🇸🇦Arabic سمك الزامور · سمك الطيار
🏳️Catalan Peix pilot
🌍CES lodivod mořský
🇩🇰Danish Lodsfisk
🇩🇪German Lotsenfisch
🌍ELL Gofari · Κολαούζος · Πιλότος
🇫🇮Finnish Luotsikala
🇫🇷French Pilote · Poisson pilote · Poisson-pilote · fanfre
🌍HEB נווט חגור
🇮🇹Italian Fanfano · Pesce pilota
🇯🇵Japanese Burimodoki · ブリモドキ
🌍MLT Fanfru
🇳🇱Dutch Loodsmannetje
🌍NNO losfisk
🌍NOB losfisk
🇳🇴Norwegian Losfisk
🇵🇱Polish Pilot · Ryba pilot · przynawek retman
🇵🇹Portuguese Peixe-piloto · Piloto
🌍RON Peste pilot
🇷🇺Russian Лоцман · Рыба лоцман · Рыба-лоцман
🌍SLV Pilot
🇪🇸Spanish Pez Simón · Pez piloto · Romero · piloto · Pilotfish
🌍SQI Peshk pilot
🌍SRP Fanfan · Pratibrod · Skusac
🇸🇪Swedish Lotsfisk
🌍TAH 'uri
🌍TGL Talakitok
🌍TUR Kilavuz · Kilavuz baligi · Malta palamudu · Malta palamutu · Maltapalamudii · klavuz baligi
🌍UKR Лоцман переслідувач · Риба-лоцман
🇨🇳Chinese 舟鰤

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Gasterosteus antecessor Daldorff 1793 Synonym
Gasterosteus ductor Linnaeus 1758 Synonym
Hemitripteronotus quinque-maculatus Lacepède 1801 Synonym
Nauclerus abreviatus Valenciennes 1833 Synonym
Nauclerus annularis Valenciennes 1833 Synonym
Nauclerus brachycentrus Valenciennes 1833 Synonym
Nauclerus compressus Valenciennes 1833 Synonym
Nauclerus leucurus Valenciennes 1833 Synonym
Nauclerus triacanthus Valenciennes 1833 Synonym
Naucrates angeli Whitley 1931 Synonym
Naucrates cyanophrys Swainson 1839 Synonym
Naucrates ducter - - Synonym
Naucrates fanfarus Rafinesque 1810 Synonym
Naucrates indicus Lesson 1831 Synonym
Naucrates noveboracensis Cuvier 1832 Synonym
Naucrates polysarcus Fowler 1905 Synonym
Naucrates serratus Swainson 1839 Synonym
Scomber caeruleoalbus Osbeck 1765 Synonym
Scomber ductor - - Synonym
Scomber koelreuteri Schneider 1801 Synonym
Seriola dussumieri Valenciennes 1833 Synonym
Seriola succincta Valenciennes 1833 Synonym
Seriola succinta Valenciennes 1833 Synonym
Thynnus pompilus Gronow 1854 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 519 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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