Vieja
📖 Overview
Found on semi-hard or soft bottoms. Juveniles are often in association with Thalassia. Synchronously hermaphroditic .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 7. Body brown, yellowish brown ventrally; 7 vertical dark brown bars on ventral part of body; a large dark brown blotch edged with a pale yellowish brown line on pectoral base; pectoral, pelvic and anal fins dark brown .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Vieja is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Vieja is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Reproduction data for Vieja is currently being compiled.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range ? - 50 m . Tropical South America.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Vieja is an edible species."
- 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
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Detailed nutritional data for Vieja is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Vieja has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Meo Viejo · Vieja · Vieja Parrot Rock-Bass |
| 🏳️Catalan | Serrà veneçolà |
| 🌍CES | kanic Dewegerův |
| 🇫🇷French | Serran vieux |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Amerikahata · アメリカハタ |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Badejo-gato · Mané-velho · Serrano-de-estuário |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Mero Viejo |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 迪氏副鱸 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prionodes dewegeri | Metzelaar | 1919 | Synonym |
| Serranus dewegeri | Metzelaar | 1919 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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