Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Calamus taurinus
pluma de Galápagos, pluma palma, Galápagos porgy
Silver back with whitish silver belly. Steep forehead (nape) and snout, smooth convex dorsal outline and highly arched mid-line. Large lips. Scales relatively large and obvious. Small dark spot on base of pectoral fin. Snout. Up to length of 35.5 cm
Habitat: Prefers sand and silt bottoms in deep waters (>30m); known from Floreana, Hood, Isabela, North Seymour, and San Cristobal. Juveniles may be found in shallow waters.
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Order
Eupercaria incertae sedis
Family
Sparidae
Genus
Calamus
Species
taurinus
Taxon category: Accepted
Syn.: Chrysophrys taurina Jenyns, 1840, fide Appeltans et al. (2010)
Origin: Native
Distribution: Eastern Pacific, Peru and Ecuador including Galapagos, tropical,subtropical, and temperate regions of the world, in marine, brackish, and fresh waters.
- 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.
- Edgar, G.J. Fariña, J.M., Calvopiña, M., Martínez, C. & Banks, S. (2002) Comunidades submareales rocosas II: Peces y macroinvertebrados móviles. In: Danulat, E. & Edgar, G.J. (eds.) (2002): Reserva Marina de Galápagos. Línea Base de la Biodiversidad. Fundación Charles Darwin/Servicio Parque Nacional Galápagos, Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador, p. 68-97.
- 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 taurinus", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=7799. Accessed 31 October 2026.