Sealife guideThe atlantic bigeyePriacanthus arenatus

Taxonomy

Common name: Atlantic bigeye
French name: Gros-yeux de l'Atlantique
Spanish name: Catalufa ojón
Scientific name: Priacanthus arenatus (Cuvier, 1829)
Family name: Priacanthidae
Order name: Perciformes
Class name: Actinopterygii

Description

The atlantic bigeye is a fish that can reach a maximum length of up to twelve inches.

The atlantic bigeye (Priacanthus arenatus) © Peter Leahy | Dreamstime.com

Range

The atlantic bigeye is found in the northwestern waters of the Atlantic ocean as well as in the Caribbean sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It can be found along the coasts of Florida such as off Palm Beach and around the islands of the Bahamas.

Habitat

The atlantic bigeye inhabits rocky bottoms and can form small schools above reefs. It is found at depths of up to 200 feet.

Diet

The atlantic bigeye primarily feeds on small fish, crustaceans and marine worms.

Did you know ?

The atlantic bigeye is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The atlantic bigeye appears in the IUCN Red List since 2015 within the category Least Concern !

Within the same genus

Common bigeye
(Priacanthus hamrur)

Within the same family

Short bigeye
(Pristigenys alta)

Glasseye snapper
(Heteropriacanthus cruentatus)

Explore also

Yellowspotted trevally
(Carangoides fulvoguttatus)

Golden trevally
(Gnathanodon speciosus)

Flamefish
(Apogon maculatus)

Philippines wrasse
(Pseudocoris bleekeri)

Maiden goby
(Valenciennea puellaris)

Black leopard wrasse
(Macropharyngodon negrosensis)

Melon butterflyfish
(Chaetodon trifasciatus)

Harlequin bass
(Serranus tigrinus)

Dive centers

'Les Ilets' dive center

Noa dive center

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