Bigeye Family – Pricanthidae

There are currently SEVEN members of the Bigeye or Pricanthiade Family, three from the Atlantic Ocean and three from the Pacific Ocean, and one from both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are presented in this website:

FROM THE ATLANTIC (3):

FROM THE PACIFIC (3)

FROM THE ATLANTIC AND THE PACIFIC (1):

The fish of the Bigeye or Priacanthidae Family are a group of marine fish found in tropical and subtropical parts of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, with nineteen global members in four genera. In Mexico, they are known as catalufas. They are named for their large eyes and are characterized by a strongly compressed, deep body and a large upturned mouth with a projecting lower jaw. They have a prominent to flat spine at the bottom corner of their gill cover. Their anal fin has 3 spines and 10 to 16 rays, and varies in length by species; their caudal fin is either slightly lunate or rounded; their dorsal fin is continuous with 10 spines and 11 to 15 rays and the terminal end is either broadly rounded or broadly pointed; their pectoral fins are short; and, their pelvic fins vary by species from short to very long and are broadly attached by a membrane to the belly and positioned in advance of the pectoral fins. Their bodies are covered with rough scales.

Bigeyes are bright red fish with various patterns of silver, dusky brown, or black. Most species reach a maximum length of about 30 cm (12 inches), although a few species reach 50 cm (20 inches). They are bottom dwellers (epibenthic) and most are found in relatively deep waters in and around coral or rock structures at depths up to 456 m (1,500 feet). The Bigeyes are poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.

Bigeyes live as solitary individuals or in small aggregated groups. They are carnivorous and are typically nocturnally active, with most spending daylight hours in caves; some, however, feed diurnally. Most feed on larger zooplankton such as crab and shrimp larvae, fish larvae, small squids and octopuses, and larval polychaete worms. Reproduction occurs via pelagic eggs. Larvae and early juvenile stages transform to settle to suitable habitats without parental involvement. Fossil records date the Priacanthidae Family to the middle Eocene epoch of the lower Tertiary period, 40 to 50 million years ago.

Some Priacanthiadae are fished for food, however, they are not a significant food fish. The majority are taken as a by-catch in open waters via trawl nets, with the remainder being caught via hook and line.

Note: There is one additional Bigeye that is known resident of Mexican waters of the Pacific  or Hawaiian Bigeye (Catalufa Alalahua), Priacanthus alalaua, which is found along the Northwest coast of Baja and around the Mexican oceanic islands. I would welcome a photograph of this species for posting herein. On this topic I remain ever vigilant.