Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system

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Species: Citharichthys arctifrons, Gulf Stream Flounder, Gulf Stream Whiff

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elongate
between eyes narrow, + ridge
top jaw < 33% head
front snout: bony horn
LL straight, 37-43

Citharichthys arctifrons Goode, 1880

Gulf Stream Flounder, Gulf Stream Whiff

Body relatively elongate, oval, (depth 34-43% of SL); eyes on left side; between eyes narrow, that space completely filled by bony ridge; snout with stout horn-like bony protuberance; mouth relatively small (upper jaw <33% of head length), ends under lower eye; teeth ~equally developed on both sides of jaws, in 1 series of fixed teeth on each jaw, front teeth enlarged, no canines; gill rakers long and slender, 5 + 6-8; dorsal fin 74-83; anal fin 58-67; pectoral fins on both sides of body, with branched rays; pelvics symmetrically positioned on belly, base of eye-side fin on body midline, short bases; tail fin bluntly rounded; urinary papilla on blind side, immediately behind anus; lateral line well developed on both sides, from edge of opercle to tail base, eye-side line ~straight, no branch under lower eye; scales rough on eye side, 37-43 on lateral line.

Generally tan, without distinguishing marks; scale edges dark; blind side white.

Reaches 18 cm.

Lives on soft bottoms.

Depth range: 20-370 m.

Massachusetts through the Gulf of Mexico; primarily warm temperate, so uncommon in the Gulf of Mexico.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Sand & gravel
  • Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
  • Soft bottom only
  • Mud
FishBase Habitat
  • Demersal
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Data
  • Bony fishes
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • Mobile benthic gastropods/bivalves
  • Mobile benthic worms
  • Sea-stars/cucumbers/urchins
Egg Type
  • Data
  • Pelagic
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Greater Caribbean non-endemic
  • West Atlantic Endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent
  • Continent only
  • Extends North of GC
  • GC non-endemic
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
  • Temperate (>35N)
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 18
Depth Range Min
  • 20
Depth Range Max
  • 370