Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
Scientific Name: Lobotes surinamensis
English Name: Tripletail
Creole Name: Kousoupa
French Name: Croupia roche
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
Description:
Dorsal spines: 11-12; Dorsal rays: 15-16; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 11-12.
A compressed, deep-bodied fish. Soft dorsal and anal fins rounded and symmetrical so that with the tail they can appear to be a single three-lobed fin. Triangular head
projecting from body. Forehead concave leading to dorsal hump. Relatively small eyes and narrow interorbital space. Mouth large, slightly oblique with protractile upper
jaw. Pectoral fins shorter than pelvic fins. Small scales extend onto the bases of dorsal, anal and caudal fins.
Colour. Adult tripletails have varied mottled colour patterns, ranging from dark brown to a reddish brown or brown with a tint of grey. Juveniles are mottled with yellow,
brown and black, white pectoral fins and white margin to the caudal fin.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 110 cm TL. Commonly to 80 cm TL.
Habitat and Ecology:
Pelagic and coastal species (depth 0-70 m). A sluggish offshore fish that often floats on its side near the surface in the company of floating objects and occasionally
drifts into shallow water. Juvenile may occur in floating Sargassum and mimic a floating leaf. Small juveniles common in mangrove areas, where their black and yellow
coloration and habit of floating on their sides makes them look like a floating mangrove leaf. Feeds on benthic crustaceans and small fish.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in seine and gill nets and with hook and line. It is a rare component of the artisanal catch.
It can however regularly be seen for sale at the market in its salted form. This appears to be reaching the market from the industrial purse seine fishery, where it is
perhaps vulnerable to the FAD fishery.
Notes:
References:
Carpenter, K.E. & Robertson, R. (2015). Lobotes surinamensis. The IUCN Red List 2015: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T198670A16644032.en. (15/07/19).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/1077 (15/07/19).
Heemstra P & Heemstra, E. (2004). Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa. NISC SAIAB. ISBN: 1-920033-01-7.
Perrota, T. (2017). Lobotes surinamensis. Florida Museum. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/lobotes-surinamensis/ (15/07/19).
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Lobotes surinamensis, Tripletail. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/lobotes-surinamensis-bloch-1790/ (edited 18/07/22).