Kyphosus Cinerascens
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''Kyphosus cinerascens'' is a
species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
of marine
ray-finned fish Actinopterygii (; ), members of which are known as ray-finned fish or actinopterygians, is a class of bony fish that comprise over 50% of living vertebrate species. They are so called because of their lightly built fins made of webbings of sk ...
. It is a
sea chub The sea chubs, also known as rudderfish and pilot fish and in Hawaiian as ''enenue'' or ''nenue'', are a family, Kyphosidae, (from Greek, ''kyphos'' = hump) of fishes in the order Perciformes native to the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans u ...
from the
family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
Kyphosidae. Kyphosus Cinerascens has 11 dorsal fins and 12 anal fins. Kyphosus cinerascens are widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region. The ''Kyphosus cinerascens'' has a strict diet on phaeophytes, chlorophytes, and rhodophytes, making them herbivores.


Description

An adult topsail sea chub grows up to 45 cm long and has a blue/grey, brown or black coloring. They are a pale fish with dark lines that separate the rows of scales.


Distribution and habitat

The species of sea chub occurs around the Indo-central Pacific and Atlantic Ocean; along several locations near the Greater Caribbean; and some areas in Brazil. The sea chub is regularly found taking residence in areas of aggregations over hard algal coated bottoms of exposed, surf-swept outer reef flats, lagoons, and seaward reefs. They are commonly seen occupying depths of 24–45 m near these rocky areas. Their habitats are usually seen within the Equatorial, Tropical, and Subtropical climate zones.


Diet

The sea chubs are herbivores that primarily eat phaeophytes, chlorophytes, and rhodophytes.


Behavior

Sea chubs are typically more active during the day where they can be found swimming in schools of 10 or more along the reef, although at night only lone individuals can be found swimming near the sea floor. They are usually found feeding on algae found on rocks and even free-floating algae particles. Meanwhile, their nocturnal habits and behaviors are still unknown despite their common solitary observations.


Conservation Significance

There are five known species of Kyphosus found in Hawai'i, with four being from the drab genus Kyphosus and the other being the ''Sectator ocyurus''. However due to the species of Kyphosus choosing algae as their main source of food, the State of Hawai'i was advised to put this fish species under protective care to help restore the control of nearby algae.


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2707303 cinerascens Fish described in 1775 Taxa named by Peter Forsskål