Page 351 - (DK) Ocean - The Definitive Visual Guide

BONY FISHES 349

ORDER GADIFORMES ORDER GADIFORMES
Shore Rockling Pacific Grenadier

Gaidropsarus mediterraneus Coryphaenoides acrolepis
LENGTH LENGTH
Up to 20 in (50 cm) Up to 3 ft (1 m)
WEIGHT WEIGHT
Up to 2 1 / 4 lb (1 kg) Up to 6 1 / 2 lb (3 kg)
DEPTH DEPTH 1,000–12,000 ft
0–1,500 ft (0–450 m) (300–3,700 m)
DISTRIBUTION Temperate waters of northeastern DISTRIBUTION Deep, temperate waters of north
Atlantic and Mediterranean Pacific

Rockling are eel-like in appearance, The Pacific grenadier is one of about
with two dorsal fins. The first of these 300 different species of grenadiers that
is a fringe of short rays that ripple are found just off continental shelves
constantly. The shore rockling can ORDER GADIFORMES This heavily built member of the and are abundant in every ocean.
be found in rock pools, where it uses order Gadiformes lurks among rocks Grenadiers are also known as rattails
its mouth barbels to find food. Most Torsk and pebbles in deep water offshore, because they have a large, bulbous
are dark brown, but some are paler. where it searches for crustaceans and head with big eyes, a sharp snout, and
Brosme brosme mollusks. It has thick lips, a long chin a long, scaly tail. The Pacific grenadier
LENGTH Up to 4 ft (1.2 m) barbel, and a long dorsal and anal fin, is dark brown with a tall dorsal fin.
each edged in white. In summer, two Another low fin runs along the back
WEIGHT 26–66 lb
(12–30 kg) to three million eggs are laid, which and all the way around the tail.
float and develop near the surface. This This species spends most of its time
DEPTH 65–3,300 ft
(20–1,000 m) species can live for 20 years. Torsk is near the seabed searching for food but
fished commercially, especially off it sometimes swims up into midwater,
DISTRIBUTION Temperate and cold waters of north Norway, using trawls and lines, and where it can catch squid, shrimp, and
Atlantic it is also caught by anglers. small fish.

ORDER OPHIDIIFORMES The adult pearlfish has a most unusual ORDER BATRACHOIDIFORMES
home—it lives inside the body cavity COURTSHIP CALLS
Pearlfish of sea cucumbers. To allow it to slip Oyster Toadfish
in and out of its host easily, it has an People living in houseboats along
Carapus acus eel-like body, no pelvic fins, and no Opsanus tau the east coast of the US are
LENGTH scales. It is a silvery-white color LENGTH Up to 17 in sometimes kept awake at night
Up to 8 in (21 cm) with reddish markings. At night, the (43 cm) during April to October by loud
WEIGHT pearlfish may swim out of the sea WEIGHT Up to 4 / 4 lb grunting noises. The culprits are
1
Not recorded cucumber’s anus to go hunting for (2.2 kg) male oyster toadfish calling to
DEPTH invertebrates to eat, returning to the DEPTH Not recorded attract females to lay their eggs in
To 330 ft (100 m) body cavity tail first. However, the nests dug under rocks. The male
DISTRIBUTION Mediterranean; occasionally found in pearlfish may also eat the gonads DISTRIBUTION Temperate and subtropical waters of makes these noises by vibrating
subtropical waters of eastern Atlantic and other organs of its host. northwestern Atlantic the walls of his swim bladder
using special muscles. The
Some people would consider the swim-bladder wall acts like the
oyster toadfish an ugly animal, with its skin over a drum. The male
flat head, wide, toadlike mouth, and guards the eggs until they hatch
thick lips. It also has tassels around its after about four weeks.
chin, prominent eyes, and two dorsal
fins, the first of which is spiny. Its
shape and coloration provide is often found under jetties. It has
camouflage in its home under rocks been reared in captivity for use in
and debris. This hardy fish tolerates experiments. It also does well in
dirty and trash-strewn water and aquariums and is a popular game fish.

danger threatens, this eel-shaped fish
ORDER OPHIDIIFORMES
can quickly slip between rocky rubble
Spotted Cusk-eel or bury itself tail-first in sand or mud.
Unlike true eels, it has scales and
pelvic fins. The latter are reduced to
Chilara taylori
LENGTH Up to 15 in one split ray set very far forward under
(37 cm) the head. Its eggs are laid in open
WEIGHT Not recorded water and hatch into larvae that live
close to the surface. These develop into
DEPTH 0–900 ft
(0–280 m) juveniles that drift for an extended
period before settling down to a
DISTRIBUTION Temperate and subtropical waters of sea-bed existence.
eastern Pacific While the spotted cusk-eel lives in
shallow water, one of its close relatives, OCEAN LIFE
As it is a favorite food of sea lions, the basketweave cusk-eel, has been
cormorants, and other diving birds, found over 26,000 ft (8,000 m) deep
the spotted cusk-eel is most active at in the abyssal zone (see p.182), the
night or on gloomy, sunless days. If greatest depth for any fish.