black hamlet
Hypoplectrus nigricans
Small, almost entirely black hamlet of Caribbean shallow reefs, with dark fins and no danger to the angler.
Also called: badejo-negro, vaca negra, black hamlet
- maximum
- 15 cm
- depth
- 3–13 m
who is the black hamlet
The black hamlet belongs to the family Serranidae and reaches 15.2 cm. It is a small, solitary hamlet that lives near the bottom of shallow reefs, from 3 to 13 m, among soft and hard corals. It occurs from Belize to Panama and across the rest of the Caribbean, but does not appear on the Venezuelan coast. It feeds on fish and crustaceans. It is caught commercially and also sold for aquariums. In Cuba it is called vaca negra, and in Mexico, mero carbonero.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the black hamlet; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It has been seen spawning together with the yellowtail hamlet.
identification
Almost entirely black fish, with the intensity of black varying from bluish to brownish. All fins have dark pigment, including the pectorals, and the body is short and deep. It may be confused with the yellowtail hamlet, which is also dark but has a bright yellow tail; with the Maya hamlet, which is blue; or with the barred hamlet, which has bands. The dark color of the whole body and fins is the main sign for recognizing it.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
In Latin America it occurs from Belize to Panama and throughout the Caribbean, with records in Mexico and Cuba, but does not appear on the Venezuelan coast.
Habitat: Shallow reefs of coral and rock, 3 to 13 m, near the bottom.
rules for the black hamlet
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It poses no danger to the angler. Being small, it can be released right away.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01778, b = 3.03; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Hypoplectrus nigricans (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Hypoplectrus nigricansNames by country and language.
