Bothragonus

Bothragonus is a genus of marine fish of the family of armored bullheads ( Agonidae ). Of the two species of the genus Bothragonus swanii occurs at the North American Pacific coast from Kodiak Island to California, while Bothragonus occidentalis only from the coasts of the Japanese island of Hokkaido, the Kurileninsel Chabomai and the Peter- the - Great Bay in the Russian Far East is known.

Features

Panzer sculpins of the genus Bothragonus be seven to nine inches long. You have no barbels. The tubular outer nostrils are not sufficient to tip of the upper jaw. Both nasal bones have contact with each other, as well as the lacrimal bone. The nasal bones are about as long as the upper jaw. The Rostralknochen, parietal bone and ethmoid are without spines. The Urohyale, a Sehnenverknöcherung in the skull is plate-shaped. A Basihyale, an element between the tongue legs with lots of fish, and abdominal ribs are missing. In contrast, three Basibranchiale, bone at the base of the gill arch available. The lower jaw is at Bothragonus completely covers its mouth closed from the upper jaw. Palatine bone and Prävomer are dentate. Between the orbits of the skull is indented. The number of Branchiostegalstrahlen is six that has Bothragonus to 38 of 32 vertebrae in two Postcleithra ( bones in the shoulder girdle ).

The body is covered with bony plates. Six to eight are located in front of the dorsal fin, 31 to 36 along the lateral line. The back profile shows a large pit directly behind the head. Bothragonus has three basal bone at the base of the pelvic fins and a sting behind it. In the caudal skeleton, two Epurale find ( elongated, detached bones).

• Fins formula: Dorsal II-V/4-5, Anal 4-6, pectoral 11-12.

Species

• Bothragonus occidentalis Lindberg, 1950
• Bothragonus swanii Steindachner, 1876