Rockhead (fish)

The rockhead (Bothragonus swanii), also known as the deep-pitted poacher or deep-pitted sea-poacher,[2] is a fish in the poacher family, Agonidae.[3] It was described by Franz Steindachner in 1876, originally in the genus Hypsagonus.[4] It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Carmel Bay, California down to depths of 18 metres. It can also inhabit the intertidal zone. Males can reach a maximum total length of 8.9 centimetres.[3]

Rockhead
A rockhead on top of a rock scallop at the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Agonidae
Genus: Bothragonus
Species:
B. swanii
Binomial name
Bothragonus swanii
(Steindachner, 1876)
Synonyms[1]
  • Hypsagonus swanii Steindachner, 1876
  • Bothragonus swani (Steindachner, 1876)

The species epithet "swanii" refers to James G. Swan of Port Townsend, Washington.[3] The rockhead spawns nearshore, during the months of January–May in the California Current region.[5] Its diet consists of benthic shrimp and crabs.[6]

References
  1. Synonyms of Bothragonus swanii at www.fishbase.org.
  2. Common names for Bothragonus swanii at www.fishbase.org.
  3. Bothragonus swanii at www.fishbase.org.
  4. Steindachner, F. 1876 [ref. 4225] Ichthyologische Beiträge (V). [Subtitles i-v.]. Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe v. 74 (1. Abth.): 49-240, Pls. 1-15.
  5. Spawning for Bothyragonus swanii at www.fishbase.org.
  6. Food items reported for Bothragonus swanii at www.fishbase.org.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.