FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
There are over 30,000 species of vertebrae that breathe through gills, swim with fins, and have scales and small brains. Wondering who? The fish conquer the water bodies around the world, and an Atlantic wreckfish, Polyprion americanus, is one of them. It is also known as stone bass, bass groper, and wreckfish. It is closely related to grouper and sea bass and is often speculated to be cousins. The fish is cosmopolitan. The population of the wreckfish is distributed throughout the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean.
The wreckfish is a ray-finned fish from the family Polyprionidae. Furthermore, it is a commercial fish with Charleston bump (South Carolina, South Atlantic) as the primary commercial fishery center. Being smart seafood, it is harvested and managed in commercial fisheries, concentrating in Charleston, a deepwater bank near the South Atlantic. Though the deepwater fish is large, slow-moving, and is predatory, the fish is caught by commercial fishermen and the stock is speculated to be healthy. It is transported across the South Atlantic to the coast of Europe.
The wreckfish is a blue-gray fish with a silver sheen. While the underside is paler with brown-black fins, it has blotches fading from brown to yellow on the belly. Interestingly, the mouth of the fish is large with a bony ridge on the upper side of the gill cover. It inhabits the caves and shipwrecks in the rocky ocean bottom or natural reef.
If the uniqueness of the Atlantic wreckfish makes you interested to read more about similar species, you can read about ladyfish and meagre fish.
An Atlantic wreckfish, Polyprion americanus, is a bathydemersal, marine ray-finned fish, also known as stone bass, bass groper, and wreckfish. It is a cousin of the grouper and sea bass. It is a commercial fish harvested from mid-April to mid-January in the fisheries.
The Atlantic wreckfish, Polyprion americanus, belongs to the class Actinopterygii, order Perciformes, family Polyprionidae, and genus Polyprion. Its scientific name, Polyprion americanus, is referred to as the spiny fin as Polyprion has a Greek origin. The word poly means 'many', while prion means 'saw' which is translated as 'many saws' highlighting the spiny fins.
The Atlantic wreckfish, Polyprion americanus, is a commercial fish inhabiting deep water bodies and various fisheries. While the fishing rates of the wreckfish are reportedly high, the population of fish is at no risk. A considerable yet healthy stock is recorded in the fisheries.
While the wreck bass was first documented near the coast of Charleston bump, the Atlantic wreckfish, Polyprion americanus, is a cosmopolitan species of fish living in caves over the rocky bottom. Its disjunct population is distributed from the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. The Atlantic wreckfish location ranges from the South Atlantic to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Europe. It is also a sport fish along the coast of North and South America.
The North wreckfish inhabits caves over the rocky bottom of deep water bodies or natural reefs. The species is recorded to live at depths of 200-600 ft (61-183 m). Precisely, the Atlantic wreckfish habitat surrounds the bottom of various water bodies.
While the Atlantic wreckfish live a solitary life in a reserved territory around the bottom, they spawn during the summer months from mid-January to mid-April in areas around the Charleston Bump. Juveniles live in shoals under protection from their predators.
An Atlantic wreckfish is reported to have a long and healthy life with an average life span of over 70 years.
The species of wreckfish attain sexual maturity within the initial eight years. They spawn in the summer months from mid-January to mid-April. The fertilized eggs hatch into larvae. The juveniles live in shoals under protection from their predators. While adults do not have known predators, juveniles are threatened by bony fish and sharks.
While the Atlantic wreck bass or stone bass are often caught via commercial fishing, it is stored in the fishery, harvested, and managed by the fisherman. The species has a healthy stock recorded in the respective fishery and also, the fish is at no risk. Furthermore, the wreckfish is not listed under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Thus, it is tagged as Data Deficient under the IUCN List.
The wreckfish is bluish-gray with a silvery sheen and the mostly spiny fins are brownish-black in color. Its gill cover has a bony ridge. While the underside is paler, the belly is reported to have blotches fading from brown to yellow. It has a large head a big mouth with an external lower jaw protrudes. With age, the fish grows heavy with a maximum weight ranging up to 220 lb (100 kg).
The fish has an external lower jaw that protrudes making the fish look dangerous. The wreckfish is not considered cute but is smart seafood. You may not find the fish attractive but are sure to feed upon it, considering the mild yet distinct flavor of the fish.
There is no scientific search data highlighting the communication mechanism of the fish. Like other species of fish, it is speculated to communicate through different gestures and motions. Also, since the species lead a solitary life, it is hardly recorded to communicate with fish in its habitat.
The length of the wreckfish ranges up to 6.9 ft (210 cm). The whale shark is the longest fish caught so far throughout the oceanic bodies.
Research reports lack an estimated speed of the north wreckfish. It is believed that the fish does not swim faster than 25 mph (40 kph) since the fishery authorities highlight the fact that fish swimming over 30 mph (48 kph) cannot be caught by the fishing line.
According to the search, the weight of a stone bass ranges up to 220 lb (100 kg).
The Atlantic wreckfish male and Atlantic wreckfish female do not have a sex-specific name under the genre, biology.
The baby wreckfish is often called a fry in biology.
The Atlantic wreckfish diet comprises fish, squid, cuttlefish, crab, and lobster. They are majorly predatory and feed and prey upon a variety of marine creatures residing in their habitat. Also, squid and cuttlefish are used to set a trap by the fisherman while fishing as they are their primary source of food and thus get caught in a fishery.
While the wreckfish is highly predatory, it is dangerous to a variety of marine creatures as it is a primary source of its food. It is not speculated to pose any danger to humans, rather human activities such as fishing are reported to be a threat to the species. There is a healthy stock of the Atlantic wreckfish (edible species) managed in the fishery, caught by fishing.
No, the Atlantic wreck bass is not an ideal pet, rather is a source of seafood for humans.
It is a commercial species of wreckfish that is considered smart seafood. Thus, fishing and harvesting the wreckfish is a pretty cosmopolitan activity, carried throughout the globe.
The species is recorded to have high fishing rates, thus to stabilize its population, there are a few restrictions imposed on fishing activities.
The wreckfish is a smart component of seafood having a mild flavor, similar to grouper or sea bass. It is best served when grilled.
The Atlantic wreckfish name can be justified as they tend to inhabit shipwrecks in the rocky ocean bottom or natural reef. On the other hand, its scientific name, Polyprion americanus, refers to its spiny fins as Polyprion has a Greek origin and the word 'poly' means 'many', while 'prion' means 'saw' which is translated as 'many saws' highlighting the spiny fins.
There are no reports stating whether the wreckfish are Endangered or at risk of being Extinct.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these channel catfish facts and African lungfish facts for kids.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Atlantic wreckfish coloring pages.
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising.
We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the buy now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published.
Kidadl has a number of affiliate partners that we work with including Amazon. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.
We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
Was this article helpful?
We’ll send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out.
Check your inbox for your latest news from us. You have subscribed to:
Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter.