jewfish

jewfish
/jooh"fish'/, n., pl. (esp. collectively) jewfish, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) jewfishes.
any of several very large fishes, esp. of the family Serranidae, as the giant sea bass and the groupers Epinephelus itajara and E. nigritus, found in the tropical Atlantic Ocean.
[1690-1700; appar. JEW + FISH]

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Any of several large fishes of the sea bass family (Serranidae), especially Epinephelus itajara, found on the Atlantic coast of the New World tropics.

They may reach a length of 8 ft (2.4 m) and a weight of about 700 lbs (320 kg). The adult is dull olive-brown with faint spots and bands and is usually solitary. The South Pacific jewfish (E. lanceolatus) may exceed 12 ft (3.7 m) in length. The Warsaw grouper (E. nigritus) and giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) are both occasionally called jewfish, and three Australian species in the genera Johnius and Glaucosoma are called jewfish.

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fish
      any of several large fishes of the sea bass (q.v.) family (Serranidae), especially the goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara), found on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of tropical America and in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. This species sometimes attains a length of 2.5 metres (8 feet) and a weight of about 320 kilograms (700 pounds). The adult is dull olive-brown with faint spots and bands. Adult jewfish are usually solitary and typically remain in the same area for extended periods. The related south Pacific jewfish (E. lanceolatus) may reach 3.75 metres in length.

      The Warsaw grouper (E. nigritus), living in the Atlantic between South Carolina and Brazil, and the giant sea bass (Stereolepis gigas) from the Pacific, off California and Baja California, are both occasionally called jewfish. They grow to about 2.2 metres and 220 kilograms.

      In Australia the name jewfish is given to Johnius antarctica and J. diacanthus on the east coast and to Glaucosoma hebraicum on the west coast.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • jewfish — [jo͞o′fish΄] n. pl. jewfish or jewfishes (see FISH) [orig. uncertain] any of several large fish found in warm seas; esp., a large grouper (Epinephelus itajara) found off Florida …   English World dictionary

  • Jewfish — Jew fish , n. (Zo[ o]l.) 1. A very large serranoid fish ({Promicrops itaiara}) of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. It often reaches the weight of five hundred pounds. Its color is olivaceous or yellowish, with numerous brown spots. Called also… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Jewfish — is the informal name of some species of fish, including: * Glaucosoma hebraicum , the West Australian Dhufish * Epinephelus itajara , the Goliath grouper …   Wikipedia

  • jewfish — (n.) 1670s, from JEW (Cf. Jew) (n.) + FISH (Cf. fish) (n.) …   Etymology dictionary

  • jewfish — /ˈdʒufɪʃ / (say joohfish) noun (plural jewfish or jewfishes) 1. in Australia a. any of several species of large, marine fishes of the family Sciaenidae, valued as food and for sport, as the mulloway. b. a large food fish, Glaucosoma hebraicum,… …  

  • jewfish — Tarpum Tar pum, n. (Zo[ o]l.) A very large marine fish ({Megapolis Atlanticus}) of the Southern United States and the West Indies. It often becomes six or more feet in length, and has large silvery scales. The scales are a staple article of trade …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • jewfish — noun Date: 1679 any of various large groupers (especially Epinephelus itajara) that are usually dusky green, brown, or blackish, thickheaded, and rough scaled; also any of various other large fishes (as Argyrosomus hololepidotus) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • jewfish — common name for Epinephelus itajara (Lichtenstein, 1822), changed to goliath grouper so as not to violate the tenets of good taste. See also squawfish …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • jewfish — noun any of many types of fish including the Japanese seabass Syn: Goliath grouper …   Wiktionary

  • jewfish — n. any of the different large groupers that are blackish or dark green or brown with rough scales (found in the tropical Atlantic Ocean) …   English contemporary dictionary

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