Panama Porkfish

Appearance

Bright yellow with dark-edged blue stripes on side; a pair of blackish bars anteriorly, one through eye and another immediately behind head; juveniles with yellow head and anterodorsal region of body, a dark brown midlateral stripe, and large black spot on base of tail fin.

Size: to 30 cm.

Body compressed and deep (depth contained 1.9 to 2.3 times in standard length); mouth small and terminal with thick fleshy lips; dorsal fin with 12 spines and 15 to 17 soft rays (XII, 15-17); pectoral fins equal to or shorter than head, reaching origin of anal fin; lateral line scales 49 to 57; scale series above lateral line oblique; back golden yellow; flanks with 6 bright blue longitudinal stripes bordered with dark blue; a dark (brown or black) bar from the nape and across the eye; a similar bar from origin of dorsal fin to base of pectoral fin.
Max length : 31.0 cm TL male/unsexed; common length : 20.0 cm TL male/unsexed.

Naming

Other common names; Burro bandera.

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: Mexico to the northern tip of Peru.

Status

Least Concern.

Habitat

Found over hard bottoms of shallow coastal waters.

Reproduction

Distinct pairing during breeding

Uses

Also caught with trammel nets and harpoons. Considered a valuable food-fish.