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Butterfish

Peprilus triacanthus

Sketch drawing of a butterfish, a diamond shaped fish with a pointed top fin and a longer scaled bottom finMax Size: 30cm (12 inches)

Habitat: Western Atlantic Ocean along coastline of North America

Diet: Jellyfish, squids, crustaceans and worms

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun Facts:

  • Like many fish, Butterfish spend the beginning of their life growing in estuaries and other nearshore waters before moving to the Ocean as adults
  • Butterfish form schools as a form of defense against predators
  • Humans are predators of butterfish: they get their name from the fact that they are high in fat and reportedly delicious when cooked

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