Taractes rubescens (Jordan & Evermann, 1887)
Pomfret
Taractes rubescens
photo by Cambraia Duarte, P.M.N. (c)ImagDOP

Family:  Bramidae (Pomfrets)
Max. size:  89 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 600 m, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Pacific and Atlantic: widely distributed in tropical waters (Ref. 559). Eastern Central Pacific: Costa Rica to Peru. Eastern Atlantic: off west Africa. Western Atlantic: Gulf of Mexico, Trinidad. Not known from the Indian Ocean (Ref. 4936). Recently reported in Aden Gulf, Arabian Sea (Ref. 85285). Highly migratory species.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 30-32; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 21-23. Caudal peduncle with a strong keel formed of enlarged and fused scales. Scaleless areas above and behind the eyes. Lateral line in adults obsolete. Fins of juveniles very long. Attains 70 cm SL.
Biology:  Adults occur from shallow water to about 600 m depth offshore (Ref. 82736). Often solitary (Ref. 82736).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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