Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Calamus brachysomus
pluma pacifica, pluma marotilla, Pacific porgy
Silvery gray. Steep snout, smooth convex dorsal outline. Large lips. Scales relatively large and obvious. Small dark spot on base of pectoral fin. Reaches lengths of 38.5 cm, probably not larger than 40 cm.
Habitat: Found throughout the islands in shallow to moderate depths over sand bottoms, also mangrove lagoons.
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Order
Eupercaria incertae sedis
Family
Sparidae
Genus
Calamus
Species
brachysomus
Taxon category: Accepted
Syn.: Sparus brachysomus Lockington, 1880, fide Appeltans et al. (2010)
Origin: Native
Distribution: Eastern Pacific, from California to Peru and Ecuador in the Galápagos Islands and Malpelo Islands
- Appeltans, W. Bouchet, P., Boxshall, G.A., Fauchald, K., Gordon, D.P., Hoeksema, B.W., Poore, G.C.B., van Soest, R.W.M., Stöhr, S., Walter, T.C., Costello, M.J. (eds.) (2010) World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Available online at http://www.marinespecies.org.
- Constant, P. (2007) Marine Life of the Galapagos. The Diver's guide to Fishes, Whales, Dolphins and marine Invertebrates, 307 pp.
- Grove, J.S. Lavenberg, R.J. (1997) The Fishes of the Galapagos Islands. Stanford University Press, Stanford California. 862 pp.
- Humann, P. Deloach, N. (2003) Reef Fish Identification - Galapagos. New World Publication, Inc. Florida USA & Libri Mundi, Quito, Ecuador, 226 pp.
- IUCN (2023) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2022-2 Https://www.iucnredlist.org
- IUCN (2010) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 April 2010.
- McCosker, J.E. Rosenblatt, R.H. (2010) The fishes of the Galápagos Archipelago: an update. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sc., Ser. 4, vol. 61, Suppl. II, no. 11: 167-195.
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This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Calamus brachysomus", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=7798. Accessed 31 October 2026.