Soleidae - Achirus mazatlanus (Steindachner, 1869) |
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| SOURCE FOR OCCURRENCE IN ECUADOR: This species is common along the Pacific slope of Ecuador. There are many references for its occurrence in the area (e.g., Rubio, 1988; Fischer, et al 1995; Massay & Massay, 1999; Laaz & Torres, 2010; Eschmeyer, 2011). |
| ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: Steindachner, F. 1869. Eine Abhandlung über einige neue Fischarten aus den Sammlungen des Wiener-Museums. Anzeiger der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien v. 6 (no. 19):149-150. |
| TYPE SPECIMENS: |
| TAXONOMIC STATUS: Valid (Eschmeyer and Fricke, 2011). |
| RANGE ECUADOR: Estuaries throughout the country (Massay & Massay, 1999) occasionally entering freshwater. |
| RANGE OUTSIDE OF ECUADOR: Gulf of California to Tumbes, Peru (Rubio, 1988). |
| COLLECTIONS IN ECUADOR: |
| MAXIMUM SIZE: 70 cm (Rubio, 1988). |
| DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Achirus mazatlanus differs from other species in the genus by the following characters: dorsal rays 55-57, anal rays 41-44, pectoral rays 1-4, anterior part of head on blind side with very short, fleshy tentacles, lower lip on eyed side with short fringes, scales on eyed side with scattered clusters of fine, black hair-like filaments. Dark grey or brownish grey to light tan with about 8 vertical dark lines across eyed side and scattered clumps of black hair-like filaments (Steindachner,1869). |
| ECOLOGY: Achirus mazatlanus is known in Ecuador as the “guardaboya”. It is a medium-sized, ecologically important carnivorous fish that feeds on crustaceans, small fish, polichaetes, and occasionally detritus (Fischer, et al 1995). This is a benthic species that lives primarily over mud and sand. During the rainy season, juveniles and adults are collected in estuarine areas and in fresh waters (Rubio, 1988). |
| ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: This species is commercially important. |
| CONSERVATION STATUS: NA, although it is exploited. |
| LINK TO FISHBASE PAGE: Click here for link |
| SPECIES PROFILE CREATED BY: Enrique Laaz |
| SPECIES PROFILE CONTRIBUTORS: NA |
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