Blackspot tuskfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackspot tuskfish |
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The blackspot tuskfish (scientific name: Choerodon schoenleinii) is a type of wrasse fish. It lives in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean. You can find it from Mauritius all the way to Indonesia, Australia, and up to the Ryukyus islands.
This fish likes to live on reefs, especially where there is sand or lots of seaweed. It usually swims at depths from 10 to 60 meters (about 33 to 197 feet). However, it is rarely found deeper than 20 meters (about 66 feet). The blackspot tuskfish can grow up to 100 centimeters (about 39 inches) long. The heaviest one ever recorded weighed about 15.5 kilograms (about 34 pounds).
This fish is important for local commercial fisheries, meaning people catch it to sell. It is also farmed, which means it is raised in special fish farms. Many people enjoy catching it as a game fish, especially spearfishers. You might even see it in the aquarium trade.
In Hong Kong, the blackspot tuskfish is called tsing yi in Cantonese (Cantonese:青衣). An island there was even named after this fish!
About the Name
The blackspot tuskfish was named to honor Johann Lucas Schönlein. He was a German naturalist and professor of medicine who lived from 1793 to 1864.
Smart Fish: Tool Use
In 2011, a professional diver saw something amazing. A blackspot tuskfish was using a rock to break open a clam shell! This was the first time anyone had ever seen a wild fish use a tool. It shows how clever these fish can be.
