Brassy Chub (Kyphosus vaigiensis) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Brassy chub is a marine fish found in warm seas worldwide, with an oval body flattened from side to side. Thin gold lines along its sides and below the eye help you recognize it.

Appearance

Appearance: The body is oval and flattened from side to side, with gold lines on a silvery or olive background.

Look-alikes

Hawaiian chubKyphosus hawaiiensis

Gold lines along the sides and below the eye favor brassy chub. Without clear markings, the two can be hard to separate from photos; a specimen may be needed.

Why they get mixed upBoth are chubs in Hawaiian reef waters.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Rocky reefs
Reef flats
Range: This fish lives in Hawaiian waters and across warm seas worldwide.
Preferred conditions: Groups gather over hard, seaweed covered reef bottoms in areas exposed to waves.

Behavior

Diet: In Hawaiian waters, it browses seaweed growing on reefs.

Name and classification

About the name: Brassy chub is also called lowfin chub.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

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