Amphichthys cryptocentrus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	BATRACHOIDIFORMES	BATRACHOIDIDAE

Scientific Name:	Amphichthys cryptocentrus
Species Authority:	(Valenciennes, 1837)
Synonym/s:	Amphichthys hildebrandi Breder, 1925 Marcgravia cryptocentra Valenciennes, 1837 Opsanus hildebrandi Breder, 1925
Taxonomic Notes:	Potential taxonomic problem: Amphichthys hildebrandi (Breder 1925) may be a valid species, although Collette (2003) considered it as a junior synonym of A. cryptoccentrus.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:	2010
Assessor/s:	Collette, B., Matsuura, K., Nelson, J., Dooley, J., Fritzsche, R. & Carpenter, K.
Reviewer/s:	Collen, B., Richman, N., Beresford, A., Chenery, A. & Ram, M.
Contributor/s:	De Silva, R., Milligan, H., Lutz, M., Batchelor, A., Jopling, B., Kemp, K., Lewis, S., Lintott, P., Sears, J., Wilson, P., Smith, J. & Livingston, F.
Justification: Amphichthys hildebrandi is widespread, locally abundant and not subject to directed fisheries and therefore of Least Concern.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Amphichthys cryptocentrus is distributed along the north coast of South America from Panama to Recife, Brazil.
Countries:	Native: Brazil; Colombia; French Guiana; Guyana; Panama; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; Venezuela
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Atlantic – southwest; Atlantic – western central
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Amphichthys cryptocentrus is moderately abundant (Collette 2002).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Amphichthys cryptocentrus is a coral and rocky reef-associated, demersal species that has a depth range of 0 - 70 m. It is sluggish and inhabits littoral waters. This species is usually found on sandy or rock substrates and even large specimens may be found in waters less than 1 m deep. It is also found hiding in crevices or caves. Its diet mainly consists of molluscs and crustaceans (Collette 2002). The eggs of Amphichthys cryptocentrus are deposited on the shells of molluscs or stones, and this species is one of the very few marine fishes that guards fry and juveniles (B. Collette pers. comm. 2009).
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

Amphichthys cryptocentrus is a coral and rocky reef-associated, demersal species that has a depth range of 0 - 70 m. It is sluggish and inhabits littoral waters. This species is usually found on sandy or rock substrates and even large specimens may be found in waters less than 1 m deep. It is also found hiding in crevices or caves. Its diet mainly consists of molluscs and crustaceans (Collette 2002).

The eggs of Amphichthys cryptocentrus are deposited on the shells of molluscs or stones, and this species is one of the very few marine fishes that guards fry and juveniles (B. Collette pers. comm. 2009).

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Amphichthys cryptocentrus is not of commercial importance. It is harvested by local fishers for local trade as a food source. It is caught in traps and by special types of hooks called garrapinos, and is marketed mainly fresh (Collette, 2002). This species may also occassionally be harvested by artisanal and trawl fisheries for fishmeal and oil production.

Major Threat(s):

Amphichthys cryptocentrus is not of commercial importance. It is harvested by local fishers for local trade as a food source. It is caught in traps and by special types of hooks called garrapinos, and is marketed mainly fresh (Collette, 2002). This species may also occassionally be harvested by artisanal and trawl fisheries for fishmeal and oil production.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are no species-specific conservation measures in place for Amphichthys cryptocentrus, however, the distribution of this species may fall within a number of marine protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

There are no species-specific conservation measures in place for Amphichthys cryptocentrus, however, the distribution of this species may fall within a number of marine protected areas.

Citation:	Collette, B., Matsuura, K., Nelson, J., Dooley, J., Fritzsche, R. & Carpenter, K. 2010. Amphichthys cryptocentrus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 23 May 2013.
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