Editing Tilefish (section)

{{Short description|Family of fishes}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Tilefishes
| image = RandallTFya.jpg 
| image_caption = ''[[Hoplolatilus randalli]]'' 
| taxon = Malacanthidae
| authority = [[Felipe Poey y Aloy|Poey]], 1861<ref name=vdLaan-Eschmeyer-Fricke-2014>{{cite journal |author1=van der Laan, Richard |author2=Eschmeyer, W.N. |author2-link=William N. Eschmeyer |author3=Fricke, Ronald |name-list-style=amp |year=2014 |title=Family-group names of recent fishes |journal=Zootaxa |volume=3882 |issue=2 |pages=1–230 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1 |pmid=25543675 |url=https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3882.1.1/10480 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
| subdivision_ranks = Subfamilies<ref name=FishBase-2015-10>{{FishBase family |family=Malacanthidae |month=October |year=2015}}</ref><ref name=Nelson-Grande-Wilson-2016/>
| subdivision = see text
| synonyms = Branchiostegidae <small>[[David Starr Jordan|Jordan]], 1923</small>
| synonyms_ref = <ref name=vdLaan-Eschmeyer-Fricke-2014/>
}}
[[file:Malacanthus latovittatus.jpg|right|250px|thumb| [[Blue blanquillo]], ''Malacanthus latovittatus'' ]]

'''Tilefishes''' are mostly small [[perciform]] marine [[fish]] comprising the [[family (biology)|family]] '''Malacanthidae'''.<ref name=FishBase-2015-10/><ref name=Nelson-2006/> They are usually found in sandy areas, especially near [[coral reef]]s. They have a long life span, up to 46 years (females) and 39 years (males).  <ref>{{cite web |title=Malacanthidae |website=DiscoverLife.org |url=http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Malacanthidae }}</ref>

Commercial [[fishery|fisheries]] exist for the largest species, making them important food fish. However, the U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration]] warns pregnant or breastfeeding women against eating [[Mercury in fish|tilefish and some other fish]] due to [[Mercury poisoning#Methylmercury and related organomercury compounds|mercury]] contamination.
<ref>{{cite web |title=Mercury Levels in Commercial Fish and Shellfish |date=1990–2010 |website=fda.gov |series=Food-borne pathogens and contaminants |publisher=U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration]] |url=https://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/product-specificinformation/seafood/foodbornepathogenscontaminants/methylmercury/ucm115644.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602034804/http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/Seafood/FoodbornePathogensContaminants/Methylmercury/ucm115644.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 2, 2009 |access-date=2011-09-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Kramer, Melody Joy |date=17 October 2006  |title=Fish FAQ: What you need to know about mercury |website=NPR.org |publisher=[[National Public Radio]] News |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6283905 |access-date=2011-09-14}}</ref> Exceptionally colorful smaller species of tilefish are favored for [[aquarium]]s.