Pacific spadefish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pacific spadefish |
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| A school of Pacific Spadefish, Sta. Catalina, Panama. | |
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The Pacific spadefish (scientific name: Chaetodipterus zonatus) is a fascinating type of fish. It belongs to the Ephippidae family, often called "spadefish" because of their unique body shape. This fish makes its home in the warm waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean. You can find it swimming from the sunny coasts of San Diego, California, all the way down to Peru. It even lives around the famous Galápagos Islands, where local people sometimes call it "Chambo."
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Meet the Pacific Spadefish!
What Does a Spadefish Look Like?
The Pacific spadefish has a very distinct look. Its body is quite deep and flat, almost like a pancake! This shape is called "compressed." It has a short, rounded snout and a face that slopes a bit, with a slight curve.
Its mouth is small. The back part of its jaw does not go past the front of its eye. While some spadefish can grow up to 65 centimeters (about 25 inches) long, most are usually around 25 centimeters (about 10 inches).
One of the easiest ways to spot a Pacific spadefish is by its stripes. It has six black stripes, or "bars," across its head and sides. However, these stripes can become harder to see as the fish gets older and bigger.
Fins and Features
The fins of the Pacific spadefish are also special. It has a large dorsal fin on its back, placed quite far back on its body. Directly opposite, on its underside, is the anal fin. Both of these fins are similar in shape and have long, strong spines.
Its pectoral fins (near its gills) and pelvic fins (on its belly) are small. The caudal fin, which is its tail fin, is large and shaped like a crescent moon. This moon-like shape is called "lunate." All of the spadefish's fins are black, matching its stripes.
Where Do Pacific Spadefish Live?
Pacific spadefish love warm, coastal waters. These areas are known as subtropical regions, meaning they are warm but not quite tropical. They prefer "inshore" seas, which are close to the land.
You can often find them near coral reefs, which are like underwater cities for many sea creatures. They also live over sandy bottoms. These fish usually swim at depths between 3 and 50 meters (about 10 to 164 feet).
Sometimes, you might even spot them in other watery places. They have been seen in estuaries (where rivers meet the sea), mangroves (coastal forests with trees that grow in saltwater), and calm lagoons.
What Do Pacific Spadefish Eat?
Pacific spadefish are social fish. They usually swim together in small groups called schools. This helps them stay safe from predators and find food.
Their diet mainly consists of benthic invertebrates. These are small creatures without backbones, like tiny crabs, worms, or snails, that live on or in the seafloor. The spadefish use their small mouths to pick these tasty morsels from the bottom.
