Pluma porgy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pluma porgy |
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The pluma porgy (Calamus pennatula) is a cool fish found in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean. It's also known as the West Indian porgy, pluma, or pimento grunt. This fish belongs to a group of fish called "seabreams and porgies."
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About the Pluma Porgy's Name
Scientists first officially described the pluma porgy in 1868. A French scientist named Alphonse Guichenot gave it its scientific name. He found the first one in Martinique.
The scientific name pennatula means "quill." Guichenot didn't say why he chose this name. It might be because this fish looks a bit like another porgy called C. penna. Or maybe it's because the pluma porgy has a shorter, more stretched-out body.
In many parts of the Caribbean, people just call this fish the "pluma." In Jamaica, it's sometimes called the "pimento grunt." In the United States, it's sometimes known as the "West Indian porgy."
What Does the Pluma Porgy Look Like?
The pluma porgy looks a lot like its cousin, the Jolthead porgy. But you can tell them apart by their fins. The pluma porgy has fewer rays on its Pectoral fins than the Jolthead.
This fish has 12 spines and 12 soft rays on its dorsal fin (the one on its back). It has 3 spines and 10 rays on its anal fin (the one on its belly). Their heads look a bit steep from the side.
The pluma porgy is mostly silvery. It has pretty purple or lavender colors that shine. Each scale has brown-yellow edges with shiny, blue-green spots. This fish can grow up to about 37 centimeters (about 14.5 inches) long. But most of them are around 30 centimeters (about 12 inches).
Where Pluma Porgies Live and What They Eat
Pluma porgies live only in the western Atlantic Ocean. You can find them from the Bahamas all the way to Brazil. This area includes much of the southern Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
Adult pluma porgies usually live in water that is 5 to 30 meters (about 16 to 98 feet) deep. They can sometimes be found as deep as 85 meters (about 279 feet). They like to live in rocky areas and on reefs. They also live on flat bottoms.
These fish are always looking for food! They eat crabs, mollusks (like snails and clams), sea worms, brittle stars, and hermit crabs. Younger pluma porgies live in water that is not as deep.
Pluma Porgies and Fishing
Pluma porgies are the most common type of their kind in the Antilles. People often catch them there to eat. Sometimes, eating this fish can make people sick, so it's important to be careful.
