Harlequin bass (Serranus tigrinus)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Perciformes · Family: Serranidae · Genus: Serranus.

Accepted name: Serranus tigrinus · Authority: (Bloch, 1790) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 273909.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Holocentrus tigrinus Bloch, 1790.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273909 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 29 cm · Depth range: 0–40 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: fusiform / normal · Vulnerability index: 22.2 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Most common in areas with rock or scattered coral. Solitary or in pairs. Feeds mainly upon crustaceans (Ref. 5521). Synchronously hermaphroditic. The most common member of the genus (Ref. 9710).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 3350) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Serranus-tigrinus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

30,315 georeferenced occurrence records for Serranus tigrinus are published through GBIF from 35 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 109 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 16 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 (24,862); Puerto Rico (2,965); Virgin Islands (U.S.) (946); Guadeloupe (295); Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (207).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2388739) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2388739&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=273909 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Serranus tigrinus (Bloch, 1790) as Least Concern (code LC). 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 154799) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/154799/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2388739) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2388739/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Serranus tigrinus has a laterally compressed elongate body with a pointed snout which is shorter than the diameter of the eye. It has 3 clearly visible spines on the gill cover, the middle spine being straight. The margins of the preopercle are regularly serrated but there are no spines at its angle. The dorsal fin has 10 spines and 12 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 7 soft rays. The caudal fin is slightly concave. This species has a black and white mottle pattern on its back and a yellow and black mottled pattern on the lower body. A black strip runs from the snout through the eye, and the chin and throat have large black blotches on a white background. There are 8 vertical black bars, 2 on the nape and 6 on the body. The caudal fin has a black bar at its base and the membrane is marked with black spots. The dorsal fin has two lines of black spots along it while the base of the anal fin has a single line of black spots. The maximum published total length is 29 cm.

Serranus tigrinus is a species of the western Atlantic Ocean where it is found throughout the Caribbean from southern Florida to Trinidad and Tobago, including the mainland coast from the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico to Venezuela.

Serranus tigrinus is normally encountered as individuals or in pairs in the rocky parts of reefs or where there is scattered coral. It is found at depths of 0 to 40 m. It is a carnivorous species, and hunts by drawing prey, usually small crustaceans, into its large mouth and swallowing it whole. This species is a synchronous hermaphrodite, which means that they have both male and female reproductive organs and can take on a male or female role in spawning; self fertilisation is possible as well.

Serranus tigrinus was first formally described in 1790 as Holocentrus tigrinus by the German physician and naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch (1723–1799) with the type locality given in error as the "Indian Ocean".

Serranus tigrinus is found in the aquarium trade.

Source: Wikipedia: Serranus tigrinus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serranus_tigrinus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.