Home · Malacanthidae · Blackline Tilefish
Blackline Tilefish (Caulolatilus cyanops) — Malacanthidae

Blackline Tilefish

Caulolatilus cyanops
Family: Malacanthidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Blackline Tilefish (Caulolatilus cyanops) is a saltwater fish of the family Malacanthidae that grows up to 60 cm.

Length
60 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
45.0–495.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The blackline tilefish is a tilefish from the western Atlantic, from the southeastern United States to South America. The species grows to about 60 cm and has a streamlined, greyish-brown body with a yellow stripe below the eye. As a bottom-dweller it lives over soft and rocky bottoms of the outer shelf edge and slope, between about 45 and 495 metres, often near burrows, and hunts crustaceans, molluscs and small fish. It is a valued food fish. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blackline Tilefish?

The Blackline Tilefish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Blackline Tilefish live?

The Blackline Tilefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Blackline Tilefish get?

The Blackline Tilefish grows to a maximum of about 60 cm. On average the species is around 30 cm.

Is the Blackline Tilefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Blackline Tilefish is harmless to humans.

Is the Blackline Tilefish edible?

Yes, the Blackline Tilefish is commonly eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwartlijn-tegelvis verified
English name
Blackline Tilefish verified
Scientific name
Caulolatilus cyanops
Family
Malacanthidae
Other names
Blackline tilefish; Ocean white fish; Ocean whitefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
60.0 verified
Average length (cm)
30.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
45.0 verified
Max depth (m)
495.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Handlijnen en beuglijnen sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Caulolatilus

More from the family Malacanthidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →