Malacanthus plumieri

(Bloch, 1787)

Sand Tilefish, Sand Blanquillo

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: North Carolina to Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Honduras, Venezuela, and to Southeast Atlantic: Ascension Island.

Size: 24 inches (60 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits open areas on inshore reefs and near grass beds and is usually found in depths between 30 – 200 feet (10 – 60 m) and usually no more than 10 – 15 feet (3 – 5 m) above the bottom substrate where they burrow for protection and feed on small fishes, worms, sea urchins, sea stars and shrimps.

General Husbandry: Has a slender elongated body with an overall pale greenish-blue body. Not collected for the trade.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Malacanthidae

Subfamily: Malacanthinae

Genus: Malacanthus

FYI: Shown here for identification only.