Black margate (Anisotremus surinamensis)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Eupercaria incertae sedis · Family: Haemulidae · Genus: Anisotremus.

Accepted name: Anisotremus surinamensis · Authority: (Bloch, 1791) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 279623.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Lutjanus surinamensis Bloch, 1791.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=279623 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Anisotremus surinamensis. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 76 cm · Common length: 45 cm · Depth range: 0–70 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 50.4 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: public aquariums.

FishBase notes: Maximum depth from Ref. 126840. Inhabits larger patch reefs and quickly sloping rocky bottoms.

Often near the shelter of caves, ledges, or wrecks (Ref. 9710). Feeds at night on crustaceans, mollusks, smaller fish, and the long-spined urchin, Diadema . Marketed fresh.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 1123) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Anisotremus-surinamensis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

23,886 georeferenced occurrence records for Anisotremus surinamensis are published through GBIF from 35 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 101 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 37 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: United States of America (19,027); Puerto Rico (2,401); Brazil (1,640); Mexico (216); Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (136).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2382615) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2382615&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=279623 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Anisotremus surinamensis (Bloch, 1791) as Data Deficient (code DD). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 194408) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/194408/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2382615) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2382615/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The black margate has a deep, compressed body with a high back and a short, blunt head. The mouth is positioned low on the head, it is horizontal with fleshy lips and the jaws are equipped with bands of teeth on both jaws. The outer band of teeth is conical in shape. It has a greyish-silver body that is darker on the anterior half than the posterior half.

The dorsal scales have black centers and the fins are dark grey, the pelvic and anal fins being the darkest. A darker patch is seen on the rear of the pectoral fins. The juveniles have a black stripe along the lateral line and another along the upper back, with a large black spot on base of tail fin. The dorsal fin has 12 spines and 18 soft rays, while the anal fin contains three spines and 9 soft rays.

A deep notch is in the dorsal fin and the fourth dorsal spine is longer than the others, while the second anal spine is also very large. The black margate reaches a maximum total length of 76 cm, although a total length of 45 cm is more typical, while the heaviest specimen recorded was 5.8 kg.

Distribution

The black margate is found in the warmer parts of the Western Atlantic Ocean, in Florida from Cape Canaveral south through the Florida Keys to the Gulf of Mexico, including the Flower Garden Banks, from Rockport, Texas, along the coast of Mexico to the northern Yucatan Peninsula and northwestern Cuba. It occurs throughout the Caribbean Sea and along the northern and eastern coasts of South America to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It also occurs at the Fernando de Noronha and Trindade Island.

Habitat and biology

The black margate shows a preference for steep, sloping rock substrates or rock reefs in inshore waters down to depths of 20 m. It frequently takes shelter in caves, ledges, and within wrecks. It is normally encountered either as small groups or individuals. It is a nocturnal feeder; its diet including crustaceans, molluscs, smaller fish, and urchins.

A frequent item in its diet are sea urchins in the genus Diadema. They may gather in spawning aggregations, and off Jamaica, breeding adults have been reported between April and August. Larvae and young juveniles have been observed settling on rocky seabeds off Florida.

Systematics

The black margate was first formally described in 1791 as Lutjanus surinamensis by German naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch (1723–1799), with the type locality given as Suriname.

Uses

The black margate is occasionally caught and marketed by fisheries, although the consumption of the flesh of larger fishes has been linked to cases of ciguatera poisoning. It is also found in the aquarium trade.

Source: Wikipedia: Black margate — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_margate (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.