Cryptacanthodes

Cryptacanthodes maculatus

The skew mouths ( Cryptacanthodes ( Gr. " kryptos " = hidden; " akantha " = thorn ) ) are a species-poor genus of fish from the group of Aalmutterverwandten ( Zoarcales ). All four species occur in cold northern Pacific or in the northwestern Atlantic.

Features

Slanted mouths have an elongated front round in cross-section and rear side flattened body and 30 to 127 cm long. The head is broad and flattened, the eyes are set high. The eponymous big mouth nearly perpendicular, the lower jaw is facing. The palate is dentate, in all species, the vomer, in all except Cryptacanthodes aleutensis also the palatine bone. The nostrils are tubular, the rear missing. The dorsal fin is long and is supported from 60 to 80 hard jets. The long anal fin also has up to three hard jets and 42 to 52 soft rays. Both go into the tail fin. The pectoral fins are very small, ventral fins are missing, but a pelvic girdle is still available. With the exception of Cryptacanthodes giganteus, which has small round scales, the fish are scaleless. As bottom dwellers slant mouths have no swim bladder. The number of vertebrae is grown together at the Isthmus ( " throat " ) at 71-88, which are the Branchiostegalstrahlen at 6 gill membranes, gill openings rich there not far forward. The gills Reuse rays are short. Their number is always less than 15, the lateral line consists of wet distant pit organs. Pits are also found on the sides of the head and the lower jaw. Slanted mouths are light brown on the body top, and colored on the ventral side cream color or monochrome pink or reddish. Also, a mottling may occur.

Way of life

Slanted mouths live in branched duct systems with multiple inputs, which they dig themselves into the soft ground. They feed on crabs and other invertebrates.

Species

• Cryptacanthodes aleutensis
• Cryptacanthodes bergi
• Cryptacanthodes giganteus
• Cryptacanthodes maculatus