Sheepshead porgy (Calamus penna)

Image source: Daniel PINELLI | inaturalist

General data

Main name: Sheepshead porgy
Local names: Littlemouth porgy, Speckled porgy
Climates: Tropical, Subtropical
Habitat: Saltwater
Native: North America, South America
Distribution: Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean

Classification

Description

The sheepshead porgy, like other Calamus porgies has a deep, compressed body and deep head.

The dorsal profile of the head is smoothly convex and is not all that steep and the snout is blunt. The posterior nostrils are elongated and even similar to slits.

The mouth is moderately large, extending to beneath the front of eye and the upper jaw protrudes just beyond the lower jaw.

The upper lip is split into 2 nearly equal parts by a horizontal groove. The suborbital bone overlaps the rear of the maxilla.

The low dorsal fin is supported by 13 spines and 12 soft rays and the anal fin is short supported by 3 small spines and 10 to 11 soft rays.

The overall color is silvery, with lavender, blue and yellow iridescences on the scales. There are normally indistinct stripes along body. There is occasionally a bluish-gray stripe below the eye as well as a dark brown bar.

The upper base of the pectoral fin has a blackish spot.

On live fish there may be around 7 dark bars.

The sheepshead porgy has a maximum published total length of 46 cm (18 in) although 28 cm (11 in).

The sheepshead porgy is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean from Florida south through the West Indies and Caribbean south as far as Brazil.

This species is found in clear reef areas between 3 and 87 m (9.8 and 285.4 ft) over soft or rubble seabeds. The juveniles are found in seagrass beds.

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
- Actinistia - Lobe-finned fishes->
- Actinopteri - Ray-finned fishes->
  - Perciformes - Perches->
  - Cypriniformes - Carps->
  - Esociformes - Pikes->
  - Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts->
  - Siluriformes - Catfishes->
  - Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes->
  - Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks->
  - Gadiformes - Cods->
  - Anguilliformes - Eels and morays->
  - Clupeiformes - Herrings->
  - Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses->
  - Gobiiformes - Gobies->
  - Mugiliformes - Mullets->
  - Carangiformes - Jacks->
  - Beloniformes - Needlefishes->
  - Labriformes - Wrasses->
  - Scombriformes - Mackerels->
  - Mulliformes - Goatfishes->
  - Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes->
  - Aulopiformes - Grinners->
  - Blenniiformes - Blennies->
  - Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps->
  - Osmeriformes - Smelts->
  - Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes->
  - Cichliformes - Cichlids->
  - Characiformes - Characins->
  - Osteoglossiformes - Bony tongues->
  - Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders->
  - Anabantiformes - Gouramies and snakeheads->
  - Gymnotiformes - South American knifefish->
  - Istiophoriformes - Barracudas->
  - Albuliformes - Bonefishes->
  - Lepidogalaxiiformes - Salamanderfishes->
  - Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes->
  - Spariformes - Breams and porgies->
    
    Sparidae - Sea breams->
    
    Diplodus - Sea breams->
    
    Dentex - Dentex->
    
    Sarpa - Dreamfishes->
    
    Lithognathus - Lithognathus->
    
    Sparus - Gilt-head breams->
    
    Oblada - Saddled seabreams->
    
    Pagellus - Pandoras->
    
    Boops - Bogues->
    
    Pagrus - Red porgies->
    
    Spicara - Spicara->
    
    Calamus - Calamus->
    
    Littlehead porgy (Calamus proridens)
    
    Jolthead porgy (Calamus bajonado)
    
    Saucereye porgy (Calamus calamus)
    
    Grass porgy (Calamus arctifrons)
    
    Pacific porgy (Calamus brachysomus)
    
    Campeche porgy (Calamus campechanus)
    
    Spotfin porgy (Calamus cervigoni)
    
    Whitebone porgy (Calamus leucosteus)
    
    Flathead porgy (Calamus mu)
    
    Knobbed porgy (Calamus nodosus)
    
    Sheepshead porgy (Calamus penna)
    
    Pluma porgy (Calamus pennatula)
    
    Galapagos porgy (Calamus taurinus)
    
    Archosargus - Archosargus->
    
    Stenotomus - Stenotomus->
    
    Lagodon - Pinfishes->
    
    Chrysoblephus - Chrysoblephus->
    
    Rhabdosargus - Stumpnoses->
    
    Spondyliosoma - Spondyliosoma->
    
    Acanthopagrus - Acanthopagrus->
    
    Chrysophrys - Chrysophrys->
    
    Amamiichthys - Amamiichthys->
    
    Argyrops - Argyrops->
    
    Argyrozona - Argyrozona->
    
    Boopsoidea - Boopsoidea->
    
    Centracanthus - Centracanthus->
    
    Cheimerius - Cheimerius->
    
    Crenidens - Crenidens->
    
    Cymatoceps - Cymatoceps->
    
    Evynnis - Evynnis->
    
    Gymnocrotaphus - Gymnocrotaphus->
    
    Pachymetopon - Pachymetopon->
    
    Parargyrops - Parargyrops->
    
    Petrus - Petrus->
    
    Porcostoma - Porcostoma->
    
    Polyamblyodon - Polyamblyodon->
    
    Polysteganus - Polysteganus->
    
    Pterogymnus - Pterogymnus->
    
    Sparidentex - Sparidentex->
    
    Sparodon - Sparodon->
    
    Virididentex - Virididentex->
    
    Lobotidae - Tripletails->
    
    Lethrinidae - Emperors->
    
    Nemipteridae - Threadfin breams->
    
    Callanthiidae - Splendid perches->
    
    Sillaginidae - Smelt-whitings->
  - Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes->
  - Moroniformes - Temperate basses->
  - Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes->
  - Zeiformes - Dories->
  - Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes->
  - Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes->
  - Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards->
  - Lampriformes - Lamprids->
  - Galaxiiformes - Southern smelts->
  - Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes->
  - Hiodontiformes - Mooneyes->
  - Percopsiformes - Trout-perches->
  - Callionymiformes - Dragonets->
  - Atheriniformes - Silversides->
  - Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels->
  - Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers->
  - Alepocephaliformes - Slickheads and tubeshoulders->
  - Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes->
  - Argentiniformes - Marine smelts->
  - Stomiiformes - Lightfishes and dragonfishes->
  - Ateleopodiformes - Jellynose fishes->
  - Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes->
  - Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes->
  - Polymixiiformes - Beardfishes->
  - Beryciformes - Sawbellies->
  - Trachichthyiformes - Rughies->
  - Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels->
  - Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes->
  - Synbranchiformes - Swamp eels->
  - Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes->
  - Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses->
- Cladistii - Bichirs->
- Dipnoi - Lungfishes->
- Chondrostei - Sturgeons and Paddlefishes->
- Holostei - Gars and Bowfins->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->

Sheepshead porgy (Calamus penna)

General data

Classification

Description

Taxonomy of Fishes

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