Home · Serranidae · Pacific reef bass
Pacific reef bass (Pseudogramma thaumasia) — Serranidae

Pacific reef bass

Pseudogramma thaumasia
Family: Serranidae
LC · Least Concern

The Pacific reef bass (Pseudogramma thaumasia) is a saltwater fish of the family Serranidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
9 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–37.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The Pacific reef bass is a small, cryptic basslet from the eastern Pacific, ranging from the Gulf of California to Gorgona Island in Colombia. The species grows to about 9 cm and has a light yellowish-brown body with dark brown spots forming longitudinal lines and a conspicuous black spot on the gill cover with a dermal flap above the eye. It lives withdrawn in rock crevices between 1 and 37 metres depth and hunts small fish and benthic crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pacific reef bass?

The Pacific reef bass has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Pacific reef bass live?

The Pacific reef bass lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Pacific reef bass get?

The Pacific reef bass grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Pacific reef bass dangerous to humans?

No, the Pacific reef bass is harmless to humans.

Is the Pacific reef bass edible?

The Pacific reef bass is not usually 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
Pacifische rifbaars verified
English name
Pacific reef bass verified
Scientific name
Pseudogramma thaumasia
Family
Serranidae
Other names
Pacific reef bass verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
9.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
37.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
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 Pseudogramma

More from the family Serranidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

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

Get the beta →