Spotted drum

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Spotted drum
adult
juvenile

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Sciaenidae
Genus: Eques
Species:
E. punctatus
Binomial name
Eques punctatus
Schneider
, 1801
Synonyms[2]
  • Equetus punctatus (Bloch & Schneider 1801)

The spotted drum or spotted ribbonfish (Eques punctatus), is a

ray-finned fish belonging to the family Sciaenidae, the drums and croakers.[3]
This species is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.

Taxonomy

The spotted drum was first formally

type locality given as Cuba.[2] The genus name, Eques was considered to be preoccupied by a name Linnaeus had used for a subgenus of Papilio, and Constantine Samuel Rafinesque created Equitus to replace Eques, however, Linnaeus's name is considered to be invalid so Eques is now considered valid.[4] Fishbase classifies this species in the monospecific genus Equetus [5] but other authorities include it Eques, treating Equetus as a synonym of Eques.[6] This taxon has been placed in the subfamily Sciaeninae by some workers,[7] but the 5th edition of Fishes of the World does not recognise subfamilies within the Sciaenidae which it places in the order Acanthuriformes.[8]

Description

The spotted drum has an oblong-shaped body, deep at the head, which tapers to a slender

total length of 27 cm (11 in), although 18 cm (7.1 in) is more typical.[12]

Distribution and habitat

The spotted drum is found in the western Atlantic where it occurs in the Bahamas, in the

Yucatan to Cuba, then throughout the Caribbean Sea. Reports from Bahia, Brazil and Bermuda need to be confirmed.[1] This species occurs at depths between 3 and 30 m (9.8 and 98.4 ft) and is associated with coral reefs.[12]

Biology

The spotted drum is frequently observed during the day under ledges or near the opening of small caves, at depths between 3 and 30 metres (98 ft), where it swims in repetitive patterns. A nocturnal feeder, it leaves the protection of its daily shelter at night to feed mainly on small

Polychaete worms.[3]

Utilisation

The spotted drum is used in the aquarium trade.[1]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T46105095A86420735.en
    . Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  2. ^
    Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences
    . Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  3. ^
    ISBN 9780691089959
  4. doi:10.29252/JAD.2020.2.1.1
    .
  5. ^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2023). Species of Equetus in FishBase. February 2023 version.
  6. Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences
    . Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  7. ^ Kunio Sasaki (1989). "Phylogeny of the family Sciaenidae, with notes on its Zoogeography (Teleostei, Peciformes)" (PDF). Memoirs of the Faculty of Fishes Hokkaido University. 36 (1–2): 1–137.
  8. ISBN 978-1-118-34233-6
    .
  9. ^ "Spotted Drum". Mexican Fish. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Equetus punctatus (Spotted Drumfish)" (PDF). The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago. University of the West Indies. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Species: Equetus punctatus, Spotted drum". Shorefishes of the Greater Caribbean online information system. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  12. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Equetus punctatus" in FishBase. February 2023 version.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Equetus punctatus.
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