Saucereye porgy

Appearance

Saucereye porgies can grow up to 56 cm in length, but normally they are 30 to 45 cm long. Though some sources state that they can weigh up to 3 lbs, the largest record is only half that: 1.5 lbs. The cheek area is blue with yellow spots; there is also a dark blue smudge behind the upper gill opening.

Naming

The Saucereye porgy was first described by the French zoologist, Achille Valenciennes in a 22-volume work entitled ''Histoire naturelle des poissons'' , which was a collaboration with fellow zoologist, Georges Cuvier. It was first described as ''Pagellus calamus'', being placed in the genus ''Pagellus''. It was since moved into ''Calamus'', a genus named for the mythological Calamus, or ''Kalamos''. It was so named because the Calamus of myth allowed himself to drown in a river, after the death of his lover, and transform into aquatic plants that young saucereye porgies make their homes in.

Distribution

Saucereyes are found only in the western Atlantic ocean—from North Carolina, east to Bermuda, and south to Brazil. They are most common around the cities of Key West and Havana. Adults are commonly found around coral reefs, where they are easily approached by divers, while juveniles are common to beds of sea grass . Saucereyes feed on a variety of animals, such as mollusks, sea worms, brittle stars, hermit crabs, crabs and sea urchins.

Habitat

Saucereyes are found only in the western Atlantic ocean—from North Carolina, east to Bermuda, and south to Brazil. They are most common around the cities of Key West and Havana. Adults are commonly found around coral reefs, where they are easily approached by divers, while juveniles are common to beds of sea grass . Saucereyes feed on a variety of animals, such as mollusks, sea worms, brittle stars, hermit crabs, crabs and sea urchins.