Five-rayed sanddab
Encyclopedia
The five-rayed sanddab (Citharichthys mariajorisae) is a species of flatfish
in the large-tooth flounder family Paralichthyidae
. It is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean
, in tropical waters ranging from the Gulf of California
in the north to the Bay of Panama in the south. It is a demersal marine fish, inhabiting the sand
y bottoms of shallow coastal waters at a depth between 10 and 45 m (32.8 and 147.6 ft).
Like the rest of the large-tooth flounders, it has both eyes on the left side of its head. It grows to a maximum length of 12.4 centimetres (4.9 in). It is brownish or grey in color, mottled with darker patches. Its common name is derived from five or six pelvic-fin rays on the ocular side.
The five-rayed sanddab is a predator, feeding on benthic
worms and crustaceans, as well as small fish.
Flatfish
The flatfish are an order of ray-finned fish, also called the Heterosomata, sometimes classified as a suborder of Perciformes. In many species, both eyes lie on one side of the head, one or the other migrating through and around the head during development...
in the large-tooth flounder family Paralichthyidae
Paralichthyidae
Large-tooth flounders are a family, Paralichthyidae, of flounders. They lie on the sea bed on their right side; both eyes are on the left side of the head, while the Pleuronectidae are the opposite with their eyes on the right side....
. It is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, in tropical waters ranging from the Gulf of California
Gulf of California
The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland...
in the north to the Bay of Panama in the south. It is a demersal marine fish, inhabiting the sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
y bottoms of shallow coastal waters at a depth between 10 and 45 m (32.8 and 147.6 ft).
Like the rest of the large-tooth flounders, it has both eyes on the left side of its head. It grows to a maximum length of 12.4 centimetres (4.9 in). It is brownish or grey in color, mottled with darker patches. Its common name is derived from five or six pelvic-fin rays on the ocular side.
The five-rayed sanddab is a predator, feeding on benthic
Benthos
Benthos is the community of organisms which live on, in, or near the seabed, also known as the benthic zone. This community lives in or near marine sedimentary environments, from tidal pools along the foreshore, out to the continental shelf, and then down to the abyssal depths.Many organisms...
worms and crustaceans, as well as small fish.