Brama caribbea, the Caribbean pomfret, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a pomfret of the family Bramidae. It is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.

Caribbean pomfret
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Bramidae
Genus: Brama
Species:
B. caribbea
Binomial name
Brama caribbea
Mead, 1972

Description edit

Brama caribbea can be distinguished from congeners through the following characteristics:

  • Possessing pectoral fins that are placed high on the body in both juvenile ‘’and’’ adult stages
  • Having relatively short ventral fins
  • Possessing fewer than 60 scales in a horizontal series between the gill opening and caudal fin base
  • Having a total number of vertebrae equaling 38 or fewer (modally 36)
  • Having 19–21 pectoral fin rays[2][3]

Distribution edit

Brama caribbea, appears to be more closely associated with landmasses than its congeners, specifically those associated with the Caribbean (from which its name is derived) and the Northeastern coastal waters of Brazil.[2][4][3][5]

Diet edit

Brama caribbea consumes a range of food items, but primarily forages for crustaceans (~48% of their diet, largely being euphausiacids and Brachyscelus crusculum), fishes (28%, primarily myctophids and Acanthurus species), and cephalopods (15%, including enoploteuthids and ommastrephids).[6]

Reproduction edit

Brama caribbea spawns during the winter, beginning in late August and ending in May, and appears to occur throughout the distribution of the species rather than a central location. However, data are limited.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ Cobián Rojas, D.; Espinosa-Perez, H.; Vega-Cendejas, M. (2019). "Brama caribbea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T190270A16510607. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T190270A16510607.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c G. W. Mead (1972). "Bramidae". Dana Report. 81: 1–166.
  3. ^ a b A. Carvalho-filho; G. Marcovaldi; C.L.S. Sampaio; M.I.G. Paiva; L.A.G Duarte (2009). "First report of rare pomfrets (Teleostei: Bramidae) from Brazilian waters, with a key to Western Atlantic species". Zootaxa. 2290: 1–26.
  4. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2020). "Brama caribbea" in FishBase. January 2020 version.
  5. ^ E. Gutiérrez; A. Fernández; R. Hernández (2005). "Brama caribbea (Pisces: Bramidae), un nuevo registro para las aguas cubanas". Solenodon. 5: 76–78.
  6. ^ T.V. Júnior; R.P. Lessa; T.M. Barbosa; M.T. Tolotti; A.C.B. Ribeiro (2006). "Stomach contents of the Caribbean pomfret Brama caribbea (Mead, 1972) from stomach contents of great pelagic predators from Southwester equatorial Atlantic". B. Inst. Pesca, São Paulo. 34 (2): 241–249.