Pacific tripletail (Lobotes pacificus)

General data
- Main name: Pacific tripletail
- Local names: West Coast tripletail
- Climates: Tropical
- Habitat: Saltwater
- Native: North America, South America
- Distribution: Pacific Ocean, Gulf of California
Classification
- Genus: Lobotes - Tripletails
- Family: Lobotidae - Tripletails
- Order: Spariformes - Breams and porgies
- Class: Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes
- Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
Description
Lobotes pacificus, commonly known as the Pacific tripletail or West Coast tripletail, is a species of fish in the genus Lobotes. It is found near the coast in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California, at depths between the surface and 50 metres (160 ft) deep. L. pacificus is caught in some artisanal fisheries and commercially sold. There is disagreement about whether L. pacificus is a synonym of Lobotes surinamensis (the Atlantic tripletail), but it is generally regarded as an independent species Max length : 100 cm TL; common length : 50 cm TL Short description Body deep and moderately compressed, the depth much greater than head length. Eyes small. Upper jaw scarcely protractile. In large individuals, the dorsal and anal fins, along with the caudal fin, appear like 3 caudal fins. Body olive colored, speckled with dark spots. Yuveniles yellowish with dark spots.