5 photos - 4 species
Introduction
The rudderfish are divided into 4 subfamilies.
Medium-sized omnivores that live on exposed outer reefs and in deep lagoons.
They grow between 15 and 90 cm long, depending on the species.
Kyphosus bigibbus
Brown chub, Grey drummer, Darkfin drummer, Insular rudderfish,
Grey chub, Grey sea chub, Southern drummer or Topsail drummer
Maximum length: 70 cm
Depth. 5 - 45 m
They have dark fins and a white snout.
Feed on brown and red filamentous algae.
Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Kyphosus cinerascens
Blue-sea chub
Maximum length: 45
Depth: 1 - 24 m
Lives on outer reefs and in outer lagoons.
Mostly in aggregations in open water along current-rich reef edges.
Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Kyphosus sectatrix
Bermuda chub, Pacific drummer, Beaked chub, Grey drummer,
Pacific chub or White chub
Maximum length: 75 cm
Depth: 5 - 45 m
Gray to silvery football-shaped body, occasionally with white spots.
Swim quickly across the reef or along steep walls in medium-sized schools.
Not shy, often come close quickly, but are just as quickly gone again.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Kyphosus vaigiensis
Brassy chub, Brassy drummer, Long-finned drummer, Northern silver drummer, Queensland drummer, Southern drummer, Blue-bronze sea chub, Brassy rudderfish, Yellow seachub, Large-tailled drummer, Low-finned chub or Long-finned rudderfish
Maximum length: 60 cm
Depth: 1 - 30 m
Inhabits deep, open lagoons, bays and outer reefs in groups.
Also often seen on shipwrecks.
Likes to accompany diving boats, waiting for scraps of food, but feeds particularly on algae.
Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt