rudderfish

rudderfish, common name for members of the family Kyphosidae, small-mouthed fishes of warm seas throughout the world. Also called sea chubs, rudderfishes commonly follow vessels (whence their name), scavenging on refuse. Best known is the Bermuda chub, averaging 3 to 4 lb (1.3–1.8 kg), common off the Florida coasts. Rudderfishes are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Osteichthyes, order Perciformes, family Kyphosidae.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.