Chaetodipterus

Chaetodipterus is a genus of marine fish belonging to the family Ephippidae. It is commonly known as the Atlantic kingfish or the piper gag. The species within this genus are widely distributed across the tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Members of the Chaetodipterus genus are characterized by their elongated bodies, which are typically greenish-gray in color, often with darker spots or stripes. They are often mistaken for other species of fish that share similar characteristics. The size of these fish can vary, but they usually range from 1 to 2 feet in length.

Chaetodipterus fish are generally benthopelagic, inhabiting coastal waters and areas with submerged structures, such as reefs or shipwrecks. They are known to feed on a variety of small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. They are also known to be caught in fishing nets, making them a target species for commercial and recreational fishing activities.

The scientific classification of Chaetodipterus is within the superorder Percomorpha, class Actinopterygii, order Perciformes, and family Ephippidae. The specific classification for two well-documented species within this genus is Chaetodipterus zabrae in the Atlantic and Chaetodipterus lichenoides in the Pacific.

Chaetodipterus fish have been of interest to marine biologists due to their unique features and their patterns of distribution across the world's oceans. However, due to conservation efforts and widespread commercial fishing practices, their numbers have been declining, making their populations more challenging to study in the future.