| SOURCE FOR OCCURRENCE IN ECUADOR: This species occurs along the Pacific slope of Ecuador. There are many references for its occurrence in the area (e.g., Eigenmann, 1922; Ovchynnyk, 1971; Barnhill et al., 1974; Rubio, 1988; Fischer, et al., 1995; Massay & Massay, 1999; Laaz & Torres, 2010; Eschmeyer, 2011). |
| ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: Bocourt, F. 1868. Note sur des poissons percoides appartenant au genre Centropome, provenant du Mexique et de l'Amérique centrale. Annales de Science Naturelle (Zoologie) (Serie 5) v. 9: 90-91. |
| TYPE SPECIMENS: |
| TAXONOMIC STATUS: Valid (Eschmeyer and Fricke, 2011). |
| RANGE ECUADOR: Estuaries of Ecuador (Massay & Massay, 1999). |
| RANGE OUTSIDE OF ECUADOR: Mexico to Tumbes, Peru (Rubio, 1988). |
| COLLECTIONS IN ECUADOR: |
| MAXIMUM SIZE: 90 cm (Rubio, 1988). |
| DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Centropomus unionensis differs from other species in the genus by the following characters: Seconda anal spine does not reach a vertical line across the base of the caudal fin. Adults possess a strong nuchal protuberance (Fischer, et al 1995). |
| ECOLOGY: Centropomus unionensis is known in Ecuador as the “robalo”. It is a large, ecologically important carnivorous fish that prefers areas with sand and mud bottoms in estuaries. Occasionally enters fresh water (Rubio, 1988). |
| ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: This species is commercially important and is heavily exploited as a food fish. |
| CONSERVATION STATUS: NA, although C. unionensis is heavily exploited. |
| LINK TO FISHBASE PAGE: Click here for link |
| SPECIES PROFILE CREATED BY: Enrique Laaz |
| SPECIES PROFILE CONTRIBUTORS: NA |
