Lophius gastrophysus
Blackfin Goosefish
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
There are no photos available for this taxon yet.
Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Lophiiformes (Anglerfish)
Lophiidae (Goosefishes)
Lophius
Lophius gastrophysus (Blackfin Goosefish)
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.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
It may contain errors in spelling, punctuation, or formatting.
When citing, please reference the original source rather than this page.
Learn more about our species accounts.
Characters
Strongly depressed body; three cephalic and three postcephalic spines; snout relatively broad; distance between sphenotic spines greater than between frontal spines; eye relatively small; head length 30.3% to 37.9% of SL, head width 48% to 58.9%, head depth 68.3% to 78%, snout length 54.2% to 59.3%, snout width 20.1% to 26.8% of head length; articular bone of lower jaw with one spine anterior to articulation of jaw; opercular opening extends below and behind pectoral fin base; large parietal spines present; quadrate with upper and lower spines; inner and outer sphenotic spines present; suboperculum with one spine; interoperculum with one spine; humeral spine well developed with smaller spines; pectoral fin rays 22 to 26; spinous dorsal fin reduced; first cephalic spine (illicium) 8.8% to 37.4% of SL; second cephalic spine 15.1% to 27.1% of SL; third cephalic spine 5.7% to 16% of SL; illicium same color as dorsal body surface, lacks tendrils; esca a simple pennantlike flap; postcephalic dorsal spines short, slender, without tendrils; second dorsal fin with 9 or 10 rays; pelvic fin with one spine and 5 rays; anal fin with 8 or 9 rays; vertebrae number 26 or 27
Uniform brown to dark gray; ventral surface with fine reticulations in adult specimens; small specimens usually lighter in color; peritoneum light
Distribution
Western Atlantic Ocean from North Carolina to northern Argentina, including the northern Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea
Northern Gulf of Mexico
Habitat Associations
Depth range 183 to 662 m; temperatures 7°C to 22°C
Biology
Maximum known size 460 mm SL
Inhabits soft bottoms (Ref. 5217). Feeds mainly on fishes (Ref. 3787). Considered a good food fish; marketed fresh or frozen (Ref. 3787).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders; parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2009-01-28. Resilience: Low (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Phylogeny and Morphologically Similar Fishes
Distinguished from other species of the family by the combination of characters described
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial.
References
Caruso 1983
C. R. Robins et al. 1986
Boschung 1992
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Cervigón, F., R. Cipriani, W. Fischer, L. Garibaldi, M. Hendrickx, A.J. Lemus, R. Márquez, J.M. Poutiers, G. Robaina and B. Rodriguez (1992) Fichas FAO de identificación de especies para los fines de la pesca. Guía de campo de las especies comerciales marinas y de aquas salobres de la costa septentrional de Sur América. FAO, Rome. 513 p. Preparado con el financiamento de la Comisión de Comunidades Europeas y de NORAD.
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.
Frota, L.O., P.A.S. Costa and A.C. Braga (2004) Length-weight relationships of marine fishes from the central Brazilian coast. Naga, WorldFish Center Q. 27(1-2):20-26.
Muto, E.Y., M.H.C. da Silva, G.R. Vera, S.S.M. Leite, D.G. Navarro and C.L.D.B. Rossi-Wongtschowski (2005) Alimentaçao e relações tróficas de peixes demersais da plataforma continental externa e talude superior da Região Sudeste-Sul do Brasil. São Paulo: Intituto Oceanográfico USP.
Comments On Lophius gastrophysus