CHUBS - Kyphosidae
General:
Subfamilies Girellinae and Kyphosinae (except Graus) are herbivorous, feeding mainly on algae; the rest are carnivorous, feeding on benthic invertebrates.
Congregate in great numbers for pelagic spawning. Usually found near shore.
Rugby-/ American Football- shaped
That this family is monophyletic has yet to be established.
Dorsal fin 9-16 spines, 11-28 soft rays. Vertebrae 24-28 (in Graus 34).
N.B.
There has been been much reclassifiction of the various species in the Tropical Western Atlantic over recent years (2012 onwards).., hence scientific names and common names have a degree of confusion in the the available books/ summaries.
Subfamilies Girellinae and Kyphosinae (except Graus) are herbivorous, feeding mainly on algae; the rest are carnivorous, feeding on benthic invertebrates.
Congregate in great numbers for pelagic spawning. Usually found near shore.
Rugby-/ American Football- shaped
That this family is monophyletic has yet to be established.
Dorsal fin 9-16 spines, 11-28 soft rays. Vertebrae 24-28 (in Graus 34).
N.B.
There has been been much reclassifiction of the various species in the Tropical Western Atlantic over recent years (2012 onwards).., hence scientific names and common names have a degree of confusion in the the available books/ summaries.
Etymology
Greek, kyphos = hump
Greek, kyphos = hump
