Poacher (fish)
| Poachers | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Alligatorfish (Aspidophoroides monopterygius) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Agonidae |
| Genera | |
|
Agonomalus |
|
The poachers are a family (Agonidae) of small bottom-dwelling cold-water marine fish. They are also known as alligatorfishes, starsnouts, hooknoses, and rockheads. Poachers are notable for having elongated bodies covered by scales modified into bony plates, and for using their large pectoral fins to move in short bursts. The family includes about 47 species in some 20 genera, some of which are quite widespread.
The pelvic fins are nearly vestigial, typically consisting of one small spine and a couple of rays. The swim bladder is not present.
At 42 centimetres (17 in) in length, the dragon poacher Percis japonica is the largest member of the family, while the pixie poacher Occella impi is only 2 centimetres (0.79 in) long as an adult; most are in the 20-30 cm range.
Poachers generally feed on small crustaceans and marine worms found on the bottom. Some species camouflage themselves with hydras, sponges, or seaweed. They live at up to 1,280 metres (4,200 ft) depth, with only a few species preferring shallower, coastal waters. All but one species are restricted to the northern hemisphere.[1]
[edit] Species
- Genus Agonomalus
- Agonomalus jordani Jordan & Starks, 1904.
- Kelp poacher, Agonomalus mozinoi Wilimovsky & Wilson, 1979.
- Agonomalus proboscidalis (Valenciennes, 1858).
- Genus Agonopsis
- Agonopsis asperoculis Thompson, 1916.
- Agonopsis chiloensis (Jenyns, 1840).
- Southern spearnose poacher, Agonopsis sterletus (Gilbert, 1898).
- Northern spearnose poacher, Agonopsis vulsa (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880).
- Genus Agonus
- Hooknose (fish), Agonus cataphractus (Linnaeus, 1758).
- Genus Anoplagonus
- Smooth alligatorfish, Anoplagonus inermis (Günther, 1860).
- Anoplagonus occidentalis Lindberg, 1950.
- Genus Aspidophoroides
- Aleutian alligatorfish, Aspidophoroides bartoni Gilbert, 1896.
- Alligatorfish, Aspidophoroides monopterygius (Bloch, 1786).
- Genus Bathyagonus
- Gray starsnout, Bathyagonus alascanus (Gilbert, 1896).
- Spinycheek starsnout, Bathyagonus infraspinatus (Gilbert, 1904).
- Blackfin poacher, Bathyagonus nigripinnis Gilbert, 1890.
- Bigeye poacher, Bathyagonus pentacanthus (Gilbert, 1890).
- Genus Bothragonus
- Bothragonus occidentalis (Lindberg, 1950).
- Rockhead, Bothragonus swanii (Steindachner, 1876).
- Genus Brachyopsis
- Brachyopsis segaliensis (Tilesius, 1809).
- Genus Chesnonia
- Warty poacher, Chesnonia verrucosa (Lockington, 1880).
- Genus Freemanichthys
- Freemanichthys thompsoni (Jordan & Gilbert, 1898).
- Genus Hypsagonus
- Hypsagonus corniger Taranetz, 1933.
- Fourhorn poacher, Hypsagonus quadricornis (Cuvier, 1829).
- Genus Leptagonus
- Atlantic poacher, Leptagonus decagonus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801).
Atlantic poacher, Leptagonus decagonus
- Atlantic poacher, Leptagonus decagonus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801).
- Genus Occella
- Bering poacher, Occella dodecaedron (Tilesius, 1813).
- Occella iburia (Jordan & Starks, 1904).
- Occella kasawae (Jordan & Hubbs, 1925).
- Occella kuronumai (Freeman, 1951).
- Genus Odontopyxis
- Pygmy poacher, Odontopyxis trispinosa Lockington, 1880.
- Genus Pallasina
- Tubenose poacher, Pallasina barbata (Steindachner, 1876).
- Genus Percis
- Dragon poacher, Percis japonica (Pallas, 1769).
- Percis matsuii Matsubara, 1936.
- Genus Podothecus
- Sturgeon poacher, Podothecus accipenserinus (Tilesius, 1813).
- Podothecus hamlini Jordan & Gilbert, 1898.
- Podothecus sachi (Jordan & Snyder, 1901).
- Podothecus sturioides (Guichenot, 1869).
- Podothecus veternus Jordan & Starks, 1895.
- Genus Sarritor
- Sawback poacher, Sarritor frenatus (Gilbert, 1896).
- Sarritor knipowitschi Lindberg & Andriasev, 1937.
- Longnose poacher, Sarritor leptorhynchus (Gilbert, 1896).
- Genus Stellerina
- Pricklebreast poacher, Stellerina xyosterna (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880).
- Genus Tilesina
- Tilesina gibbosa Schmidt, 1904.
- Genus Ulcina
- Arctic alligatorfish, Ulcina olrikii (Lütken, 1876).
- Genus Xeneretmus
- Blacktip poacher, Xeneretmus latifrons (Gilbert, 1890).
- Smooth-eye poacher, Xeneretmus leiops Gilbert, 1915.
- Stripefin poacher, Xeneretmus ritteri Gilbert, 1915.
- Bluespotted poacher, Xeneretmus triacanthus (Gilbert, 1890).
[edit] References
- ^ Eschmeyer, William M. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N.. ed. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 179. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.
[edit] External links
- Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Agonidae" in FishBase. February 2006 version.
