Editing Tilefish

{{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.

== Taxonomic issues ==
The family is further divided into two subfamilies: '''Latilinae''', sometimes called the Branchiosteginae, and '''Malacanthinae'''.<ref name=Nelson-2006>{{cite book |last=Nelson |first=J.S. |author-link=Joseph S. Nelson |year=2006 |title=Fishes of the World |title-link=Fishes of the World |edition=4th |place=Hoboken, NJ |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-471-25031-9 |pages=357–358}}</ref><ref name=Eschmeyer-Fricke-2016>{{cite web |editor1=Eschmeyer, W.N. |editor1-link=William N. Eschmeyer |editor2=Fricke, R. |date=4 January 2016 |title=Species by family / subfamily in the Catalog of Fishes |publisher=[[California Academy of Sciences]] |url=http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/Ichthyology/catalog/SpeciesByFamily.asp |access-date=18 January 2016}}</ref> Some authors regard these subfamilies as two [[evolution]]arily distinct families.<ref name=FishBase-2015-10/><ref name=Nelson-2006/>

The placement of this family within the [[Eupercaria]] is still uncertain. The 5th edition of ''[[Fishes of the World]]'' classifies them within the [[Perciformes]] but in a grouping of seven families that may have a relationship to [[Acanthuroidei]], [[Monodactylidae]], and [[Priacanthidae]],<ref name=Nelson-Grande-Wilson-2016>{{cite book |author1=Nelson, J.S. |author1-link=Joseph S. Nelson |author2=Grande, T.C. |author3=Wilson, M.V.H. |year=2016 |title=Fishes of the World |edition=5th |page=456 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-118-34233-6 |url=https://sites.google.com/site/fotw5th/ |access-date=2021-03-07 |archive-date=2019-04-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408194051/https://sites.google.com/site/fotw5th/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> while other authorities place it outside the Perciformes, at an order level but with its true relationships being ''[[incertae sedis]]''.<ref name=Betancur-Rodriguez-etal-2017>{{cite journal |last1=Betancur-R. |first1=Ricardo |last2=Wiley |first2=Edward O. |last3=Arratia |first3=Gloria |last4=Acero |first4=Arturo |last5=Bailly |first5=Nicolas |last6=Miya |first6=Masaki |last7=Lecointre |first7=Guillaume |last8=Ortí |first8=Guillermo |display-authors=6 |date=6 July 2017 |title=Phylogenetic classification of bony fishes |journal=BMC Evolutionary Biology |volume=17 |issue=1 |page=162 |issn=1471-2148 |doi=10.1186/s12862-017-0958-3 |pmid=28683774 |pmc=5501477 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2017BMCEE..17..162B }}</ref>

==Subfamilies and genera==
The following two subfamilies and five genera are classified within the family Malacanthidae, in total it contains 45 species.<ref name=Scharpf-Lazara-2020/><ref name=Nelson-Grande-Wilson-2016/><ref name=CoF-fam>{{Cof family | family = Malacanthidae | access-date = 7 March 2021}}</ref><ref name=vdLaan-Eschmeyer-Fricke-2014/>

* '''''subfamily''''' [[Latilinae]] <small>[[Theodore Nicholas Gill|Gill]], 1862</small>
** genus ''[[Branchiostegus]]'' <small>[[Constantine Samuel Rafinesque|Rafinesque]], 1815</small>
** genus ''[[Caulolatilus]]'' <small>Gill, 1862</small>
** genus ''[[Lopholatilus]]'' [[George Brown Goode|Goode]] & [[Tarleton Hoffman Bean|Bean]], 1879
* '''''subfamily''''' [[Malacanthinae]] <small>Poey, 1861</small>
** genus ''[[Hoplolatilus]]'' <small>[[Albert Günther|Günther]] 1887</small>
** genus ''[[Malacanthus]]'' <small>[[Georges Cuvier|Cuvier]] 1829</small>

==Description==

The two subfamilies appear to be morphologically different, with members of the Latilinae having deeper bodies bearing predorsal ridge and heads rounded to squarish in profile. In contrast, members of the Malacanthinae are more slender with elongated bodies lacking predorsal ridge and rounded head. They also differ ecologically, with latilines typically occurring below 50&nbsp;m and malacanthines shallower than 50&nbsp;m depth.<ref name=Nelson-2006/>

Tilefish range in size from {{cvt|11|cm}} ([[yellow tilefish]], ''Hoplolatilus luteus'') to {{cvt|125|cm}} ([[great northern tilefish]], ''Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps'') and a weight of {{cvt|30|kg}}.<ref name = MF>{{cite web |title=Malacanthida |series=Tilefish family photographs, and information |website=Mexican Fish |date=9 March 2016 |url=https://mexican-fish.com/tilefish-family/ |access-date=7 March 2021}}</ref>

Both subfamilies have long [[dorsal fin|dorsal]] and [[anal fin]]s, the latter having one or two spines. The gill covers ([[Operculum (fish)|opercula]]) have one spine which may be sharp or blunt; some species also have a [[cutaneous]] ridge atop the head. The tail fin may range in shape from truncated to forked. Most species are fairly low-key in colour, commonly shades of yellow, brown, and gray.<ref name = MF/> Notable exceptions include three small, vibrant ''[[Hoplolatilus]]'' species: the [[purple sand tilefish]] (''H. purpureus''), [[Starck's tilefish]] (''H. starcki''), and the [[redback sand tilefish]] (''H. marcosi'').<ref name = Schultz/>

Tilefish [[larva]]e are notable for their elaborate spines.<ref name=FishBase-2015-10/> The family name Malacanthidae, is based on the type genus ''Malacanthus'' which is a compound of the [[Greek language|Greek]] words ''malakos'' meaning "soft" and ''akanthos'' meaning "thorn", possibly derived from the slender, flexible spines in the dorsal fin of ''[[Malacanthus plumieri]]''.<ref name=Scharpf-Lazara-2020>{{cite web |author1=Scharpf, Christopher |author2=Lazara, Kenneth J. |name-list-style=amp |date=18 September 2020 |title=Series Eupercarria (incertae sedis): Families Callanthiidae, Centerogenyidae, Dinolestidae, Dinopercidae, Emmelichthyidae, Malacanthidae, Monodactylidae, Moronidae, Parascorpididae, Sciaenidae, and Sillaginidae |website=Fish Name Etymology Database |publisher=Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara [[doing business as|d.b.a.]] The ETYFish Project |url=https://etyfish.org/eupercaria/ |access-date=7 March 2021 |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217162719/https://etyfish.org/eupercaria/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Habitat and diet ==
Generally shallow-water fish, tilefish are usually found at depths of 50–200 m in both temperate and tropical waters of the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]], [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]], and [[Indian Ocean]]s. All species seek shelter in self-made burrows, caves at the bases of [[reef]]s, or piles of rock, often in canyons or at the edges of steep slopes. Either gravelly or sandy substrate may be preferred, depending on the species.<ref name=Baird-1988>{{cite journal |last1=Baird |first1=Troy A. |year=1988 |title=Female and male territoriality and mating system of the sand tilefish, ''Malacanthus plumieri'' |journal=Environmental Biology of Fishes |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=101–116 |doi=10.1007/BF00001541 |bibcode=1988EnvBF..22..101B |s2cid=46452205 }}</ref>

Most species are strictly marine; an exception is found in the [[blue blanquillo]] (''Malacanthus latovittatus'') which is known to enter the [[brackish]] waters of [[Papua New Guinea]]'s [[Goldie River]].<ref name=Wingerter-2011>{{cite web |author=Wingerter, Kenneth |year=2011 |title=Reconsidering the sand tilefishes |series=Aquarium fish |website=reefs.com |url=https://reefs.com/magazine/aquarium-fish-reconsidering-the-sand-tilefishes/ |access-date=7 March 2021}}</ref>

Tilefish feed primarily on small [[benthos|benthic]] [[invertebrate]]s, especially [[crustacean]]s such as [[crab]] and [[shrimp]]. [[Mollusk]]s, [[worm]]s, [[sea urchin]]s, and small fish are also taken.<ref name = gma>{{cite web |title=Tilefish  |website=gma.org |url=http://gma.org/fogm/L_chamaeleonticeps.htm |access-date=7 March 2021}}</ref>

After the 1882 mass die-off,<ref name=Marsh-Petrie-etal-1999>{{cite journal |last1=Marsh |first1=Robert |last2=Petrie |first2=Brian |last3=Weidman |first3=Christopher R. |last4=Dickson |first4=Robert R. |last5=Loder |first5=John W. |last6=Hannah |first6=Charles G. |last7=Frank |first7=Kenneth |last8=Drinkwater |first8=Ken |display-authors=6 |year=1999 |title=The 1882 tilefish kill – a cold event in shelf waters off the north-eastern United States? |journal=Fisheries Oceanography |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=39–49 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2419.1999.00092.x|bibcode=1999FisOc...8...39M }}</ref> [[great northern tilefish]] were thought to be extinct until a large number were caught in 1910 near New Bedford, Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tile fish reappears |date=2 July 1910  |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://nyti.ms/1rfvc9K}}</ref>

== Behaviour and reproduction ==
[[Image:Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps NOAA.jpg|thumb|250px|Tilefish live in burrows, sometimes forming undersea Pueblo villages. ''Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps'']]
Active fish, tilefish keep to themselves and generally stay at or near the bottom. They rely heavily on their keen eyesight to catch their prey. If approached, the fish quickly dive into their constructed retreats, often head-first. The [[chameleon sand tilefish]] (''Hoplolatilus chlupatyi'') relies on its remarkable ability to rapidly change colour (with a wide range) to evade predators.<ref name = sss>{{cite web |title=Chameleon sand tilefish (''Hoplolatilus chlupatyi'') |date=c. 2009 |series=Fish guide |website=SeaScape Studio Aquaria & Gifts |place=Sunset Hills, MO |publisher=Joe Faszl {{mvar|et alii}} [[doing business as|d.b.a.]] SeaScape Studio |url=https://seascapestudio.net/reference/fish.php?id=175 |access-date=7 March 2021}}</ref>

Many species form [[monogamy in animals|monogamous]] pairs, while some are solitary in nature (e.g., [[ocean whitefish]], ''Caulolatilus princeps''), and others colonial. Some species, such as the rare [[pastel tilefish]] (''Hoplolatilus fronticinctus'') of the [[Indo-Pacific]], actively builds large rubble mounds above which they school and in which they live. These mounds serve as both refuge and as a micro[[ecosystem]] for other reef species.<ref name=Schultz>{{cite magazine |author=Schultz, Henry C., III |date=July 2006 |title=Redoing the seafloor with tile: The subfamily Malacanthinae, part&nbsp;I |department=Fish tales |magazine=Reefkeeping magazine |publisher=Reef Central |url=http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-07/hcs3/ |access-date=7 March 2021 }}</ref>

The reproductive habits of tilefish are not well studied. Spawning occurs throughout the spring and summer; all species are presumed not to guard their broods. Eggs are small {{nobr|(< 2 mm)}} and made buoyant by oil. The [[larva]]e are [[pelagic zone|pelagic]] and drift until the fish have reached the juvenile stage.<ref name = Schultz/>

==Timeline==
The relative extant of [[Branchiostegus]] in the archeological record:
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 from: -23.03    till: -2.588    color:neogene    text:[[Neogene]]
 from: -2.588    till: 0   color:quaternary    text:[[Quaternary|Q.]]

</timeline>

== Health effects ==
[[File:Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei Kinosaki Onsen Japan17s3.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Serving of [[Red tilefish]] ''[[Branchiostegus japonicus]]'']]
Tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico have been shown to have high levels of mercury, and the FDA has recommended against their consumption by pregnant women.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fish: What pregnant women and parents should know |series=Food-borne illness and contaminants |date=28 September 2022 |publisher=U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration]] |url=https://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/ucm393070.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140613011356/http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/Metals/ucm393070.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 13, 2014}}</ref> Atlantic Ocean tilefish may have lower levels of mercury and may be safer to consume.<ref>{{cite news |title=Atlantic tilefish are absolved, F.D.A. advisory says ocean species low in mercury; fishermen vindicated |newspaper=[[The East Hampton Star]] |url=http://easthamptonstar.com/Archive/3/Atlantic-Tilefish-Are-Absolved-FDA-advisory-says-ocean-species-low-mercury-fishermen-vindi |archive-date=2018-11-27 |access-date=2016-08-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127084310/http://easthamptonstar.com/Archive/3/Atlantic-Tilefish-Are-Absolved-FDA-advisory-says-ocean-species-low-mercury-fishermen-vindi |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Branchiostegus wardi JNC2997 Mouth.JPG|''[[Branchiostegus wardi]]''
Great northern tilefish.jpg|[[Great northern tilefish]], ''Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps''
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist|25em}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin|colwidth=25em|small=yes}}
* {{cite report
 |author1=Acero, A.
 |author2=Franke, R.
 |year=2001
 |section=Peces del parque nacional natural Gorgona [Fishes of the Gorgona National Nature Park] |lang=es
 |editor1=Barrios, L.M.
 |editor2=Lopéz-Victoria, M.
 |title=Gorgona marina: Contribución al conocimiento de una isla única
 |trans-title=The Gorgon Sea: Contributions to the knowledge of a unique island
 |publisher=[[INVEMAR]]
 |series=Serie Publicaciones Especiales [Special publication series]
 |volume=7 |pages=123–131
}}
* {{cite journal
 |author=Breder, C.M. Jr.
 |year=1936
 |title=Scientific results of the second oceanographic expedition of the ''Pawnee'' 1926
 |department=Heterosomata to Pediculati from Panama to Lower California
 |journal=Bulletin of the Bingham Oceanographic Collection
 |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=1–56
 |place=New Haven, CT
 |publisher=Yale University
}}
* {{cite journal
 |author=Béarez, P.
 |year=1996
 |title=Lista de los Peces Marinos del Ecuador Continental |language=es
 |trans-title=List of the marine fishes of the Ecuadorian continental shelf
 |journal=Revista de Biología Tropical
 |volume=44 |pages=731–741
}}
* {{cite book
 |author1=Castro-Aguirre, J.L.
 |author2=Balart, E.F. |year=2002
 |section=La ictiofauna de las islas Revillagigedos y sus relaciones zoogeograficas, con comentarios acerca de su origen y evolucion
 |editor=Lozano-Vilano, M.L.
 |title=Libro Jubilar en Honor al Dr.&nbsp;Salvador Contreras Balderas
 |place=San Nicolás de los Garza, MX
 |publisher=Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León
 |pages=153–170
}}
* {{cite report
 |author=Dooley, J.K.
 |year=1978
 |title=Systematics and biology of the tilefishes (Perciformes: Branchiostegidae and Malacanthidae), with descriptions of two new species
 |publisher=U.S. [[National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration]]
}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Malacanthidae}}
* {{cite web |title=Tilefish |website=[[Encyclopedia of Life]] (EOL.org) |url=http://www.eol.org/pages/5292}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1782772}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Malacanthidae| ]]
<!-- [[Category:Edible fish]] moved to species articles -->
[[Category:Commercial fish]]