Anoplopomatidae

Anoplopoma fimbria

The Skilfische ( Anoplopomatidae ) are a two types of comprehensive fish family from the subordination of Cottioidei. Recently they have been assigned a separate partial order, the Anoplopomatales. As such, they are the sister group of all other Cottioidei. They live in the North Pacific Ocean from Japan to Alaska to California.

Features

Skilfische be 1.20 ( Anoplopoma fimbria ) and 1.80 ( Erilepis zonifer ) feet long and have an elongated, slightly laterally flattened body, which is covered with very small comb scales. Her head is unbestachelt. The teeth are small and numerous. Besides the jaw and the palate bone and the vomer are dentate. The gill membranes are grown together ( " throat ") at the isthmus. The number of Branchiostegalstrahlen is 6 to 7 out of the two dorsal fins, the first 12 to 30 hard jets, and the second one to two hard and soft rays 15 to 21. The second dorsal fin symmetrical sitting opposite anal fin has 2-3 hard and 11 to 20 soft rays. The spines of the second dorsal fin and the anal fin are very small and embedded in the skin. The small, throat constant pelvic fins have a hard and five soft rays. On each side of the head there are two clearly visible nostrils. The lateral line is complete. The number of vertebrae is 45 to 66 lacks a swim bladder.

Way of life

Skilfische live as adult fish near the bottom at depths up to 680 or 2700 meters. Juveniles tend to live close to the sea surface. They feed on prey on other fish, cephalopods, crustaceans and worms.

Use

There are important food fish, although the meat of Erilepis zonifer due to its high oil content has a laxative effect.

Species

• Genus Anoplopoma Ayres, 1859. Anoplopoma fimbria ( Pallas, 1814).

• Erilepis zonifer ( Lockington, 1880).