habitat_narrative
Marine
Chrysoblephus lophus occurs on deeper offshore reefs to 150 m (Bauchot and Smith 1984, van der Elst 1993, Smith and Smith 2003, Heemstra and Heemstra 2004). Underwater visual census assessments have not recorded this species at normal diving depths (less than 30 m) (B. Mann pers comm. 2009).This species feeds on gastropod molluscs, sea urchins, crabs, crayfish and occasionally small fish (van der Elst 1993, Heemstra and Heemstra 2004). The maximum recorded length for this species 50 cm TL (Bauchot and Smith 1984, van der Elst 1993, Smith and Smith 2003) with a record weight of 3.1 kg (SADSAA 2012).
Reproduction
The reproductive style of C. lophus is not known but some evidence suggests that this species may be hermaphroditic (van der Elst 1993). Spawning occurs in spring (van der Elst 1988, Smith and Smith 2003) and most likely takes place off northern KwaZulu-Natal (Maggs and Mann 2013).
