BILAGAY

Common names: Bilagay, Pintadilla, Pintacha.

Scientific name: Chirodactylus variegatus.

Size: In adulthood they measure around 30 cm. in length.

Where does it live?: In Chile, from the extreme north of the country to the Los Lagos region.

Favorite sites: Bilagay lives mainly on rocky bottoms associated with kelp forests, and also those dominated by black urchins.

Diet: It is a generalist carnivorous predator that consumes over 40 invertebrate species. Throughout its life, and as it grows, its diet changes. In juvenile stages, they feed on small crustaceans such as amphipods and later, their diet consists of larger crustaceans, as well as bivalves, limpets and sea urchins.

Curious fact: The Bilagay has thick lips that it uses as a vacuum cleaner to suck their prey, being a skillful searcher among the rocks.

Conservation Status: In Chile the species does not have an official conservation category, and globally it has not been evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, the Bilagay is captured by spearfishers due to its white meat, and their captures are estimated to be increasing every year.