Brassy Chub

Family: Sea Chubs (Kyphosidae)
Size: Up to 50 cm (20 in) | Max: 70 cm
Depth: 1 – 40m (3 – 130ft)
Distribution: Tropical Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific Ocean.

Identification:
A robust, oval-shaped swimmer often overlooked but vital to the reef.

• Appearance: It has a silvery-grey body characterized by distinct horizontal "brassy" or dull yellow stripes running along its sides. It has a small mouth, large eyes, and a slightly forked tail.
• Habitat: They prefer hard bottoms and exposed reef flats where algae growth is abundant. While adults stay near the shore, juveniles are often pelagic (living in the open ocean) associated with floating drifting objects.

Behavior:
The grazers of the shallow reef.

• Dietary Habits: They are primarily herbivorous, feeding on brown and green algae (like Turbinaria). However, studies suggest they can be opportunistic, switching to a carnivorous diet in certain seasons to feed on small invertebrates.
• In Bahia Solano: You will usually see them swimming rapidly over rocky reefs, along walls, and drop-offs. They can be seen solitary or forming schools in the surge zone.