Home · Serranidae · Baldwin's serranid
Baldwin's serranid (Serranus baldwini) — Serranidae

Baldwin's serranid

Serranus baldwini
Family: Serranidae
LC · Least Concern

The Baldwin's serranid (Serranus baldwini) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1–80 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Atlantic, from Florida to the Caribbean.
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Baldwin's serranid?

Description

The lantern bass is a small sea bass of the family Serranidae from the western Atlantic, from Florida to the Caribbean. The species reaches about 12 cm and has a stocky body with dark saddle blotches and fine lines. It inhabits rocky and weedy areas, from shallow water to about 80 m deep. The diet consists of caridean shrimp and small fishes. Notable is its reproduction: the species is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, possessing male and female sex cells at the same time and able to mate as both sexes. Through this lifestyle it is an interesting subject of study.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Baldwin's serranid?

The Baldwin's serranid has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Simultaneous hermaphrodite (male and female at the same time); small, camouflaged sea bass.

Where does the Baldwin's serranid live?

The Baldwin's serranid lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Atlantic, from Florida to the Caribbean.

How big does the Baldwin's serranid get?

The Baldwin's serranid grows to a maximum of about 12 cm. On average the species is around 7 cm.

Is the Baldwin's serranid dangerous to humans?

No, the Baldwin's serranid is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Baldwin's serranid edible?

The Baldwin's serranid is not usually eaten.

More photos

Baldwin's serranid (Serranus baldwini) — Serranidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) IHUNTA, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Baldwin's serranid (Serranus baldwini) — Serranidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Kenneth Manole, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Baldwin's serranid (Serranus baldwini) — Serranidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Aquaadeventures, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Baldwin's serranid (Serranus baldwini) — Serranidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Thibaud Aronson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA))

Want the complete picture on the Baldwin's serranid?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Baldwin's serranid is one of 12,519 species in the app.

All data

Identification

English name
Baldwin's serranid verified
Scientific name
Serranus baldwini
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Lantern bass; Lantern Bass verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12 verified
Average length (cm)
7 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown
Pattern
Spots
Tail shape
Straight
Mouth position
Terminal
Lips
Thick / fleshy
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1 verified
Max depth (m)
80 verified
Natural range
Western Atlantic, from Florida to the Caribbean.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Caridean shrimps and small fishes sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Simultaneous hermaphrodite sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Simultaneous hermaphrodite (male and female at the same time); small, camouflaged sea bass. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Serranus

More from the family Serranidae

Want the complete picture on the Baldwin's serranid?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Baldwin's serranid is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Is this the Baldwin's serranid?