Chalk Bass - TheLiving Encyclopedia

Serranus tortugarum, the chalk bass, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a sea bass from the subfamily Serraninae, classified as part of the family Serranidae which includes the groupers and anthias. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean. This species is found in the aquarium trade.

📌 Distribution

Serranus tortugarum is a species of the western Atlantic Ocean where it occurs from the Bahamas and southern Florida, throughout the Caribbean and along the mainland coast from southern Mexico to Venezuela.

📌 Habitat and biology

Serranus tortugarum is found over substrates of rock, silt or sand Chalk bass feed on zooplankton, although larger fish have been recorded feeding on more sizeable crustaceans which they swallowed whole. They frequently hover over sandy or rubble areas of seabed and use a nearby conch shell for shelter.

📌 Taxonomy

Serranus tortugarum was first formally described in 1935 by the American biologist William H. Longley (1881-1937) with the type locality given as the Tortugas Islands in the Florida Keys.

📌 Utilisation

Serranus tortugarum occurs in the aquarium trade.

Quick Facts

Common Names:

Chalk Bass, Chalk bass, chalk bass, chalk sea bass

Class:

Actinopteri

Data Completeness:

100%

Data Sources

🌍gbif

📖wikipedia

🔬eol

🦎inaturalist

References

All references are verified for authenticity. We prioritize peer-reviewed studies, reputable databases (iNaturalist, GBIF), and established encyclopedias.

Distribution Statistics

10

Observations

9

Countries

Top Locations

Salt Island, British Virgin Islands

1

St John 00830, USVI

1

Quintana Roo, MX

1

Belize, Belize

1

Don Fosters, S Church St, George Town KY1-1206, Cayman Islands

1

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First: 12/2/2016 · Latest: 7/7/2025