Citharichthys gymnorhinus
Anglefin Whiff
Collection Details
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Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Pleuronectfiormes (Flatfishes)
Paralichthyidae (Sand Flounders)
Citharichthys
Citharichthys gymnorhinus (Anglefin Whiff)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
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Characters
Moderately elongate and oval in profile, with well-developed cephalic spines in males, ocular-side pelvic fin with 5 rays, and snout naked. Adult males have one spine projecting anteriorly from ethmoid bone of skull, two subequal spines on anterior margin of upper eye, two spines on anterior dorsal margin of lower eye, and several small spines on lachrymal bone below lower eye. Upper eye is directly above lower eye or lower eye is slightly anterior to upper eye, and eyes are separated by a narrow bony ridge. Maxilla extends to near middle of eye. Adult males have an anterolaterally directed spine on articular head of maxilla and a forwardly directed spine at symphysis of lower jaw. Jaws are symmetrical, and jaw teeth are small, symmetrically distributed in jaws, and arranged in a single row. Gill rakers on first arch are moderately long and slender and number 3 to 5 on upper limb and 9 to 11 on lower limb. Measurements are expressed as percent of SL: head length 25%–29%, snout length 5%–7%, orbit diameter 8%–11%, upper jaw length 10%–13%, ocular-side pectoral fin length 22%–32% in males and 22%–31% in females, body depth 42%–50%. Pectoral fin on ocular side has 8 to 11 (usually 9 or 10) rays, with the second ray greatly elongated in mature males. Dorsal fin has 70 to 76 rays, with about the twenty-sixth and several following rays elongated in mature males, giving fin margin an angled appearance. Anteriormost dorsal fin rays are also elongated in mature males. Anal fin has 56 to 61 rays, with about thirteenth and several following rays elongated in mature males, giving fin margin an angled appearance. Caudal fin margin is acutely rounded. Scales on ocular side are large, ctenoid, and deciduous, and scales on blind side are cycloid, large, and deciduous. Head anterior to posterior margin of eyes lacks scales. Lateral line is slightly arched over pectoral fin and has 33 to 37 pored scales.
Ocular side is straw colored in preservative, with dark blotches symmetrically arranged on dorsal and ventral contours and along midline of body. Two dark blotches are located near caudal fin base. Males have large dark blotches on extended sections of dorsal and anal fins.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from the Florida Keys and the Bahamas to Guyana, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Greater and Lesser Antilles. In the Gulf of Mexico it is known from Alabama and the west coast of Florida from Tampa Bay to the Dry Tortugas.
Habitat Associations
Between 35 and 200 m depth
Biology
Maximum known size is 60 mm SL
Occurs at depths of 35-200 m, but most common in shallower half of depth range.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none. Distinct pairing (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2021-02-20. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
References
Gutherz and Blackman 1970
Topp and Hoff 1972
Robins and Ray 1986
Boschung 1992
Munroe 2002c
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Scott, W.B. and M.G. Scott (1988) Atlantic fishes of Canada. Can. Bull. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 219:731 p.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Comments On Citharichthys gymnorhinus