Porichthys plectrodon
Atlantic Midshipman
NS
G5
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Batrachoidiformes
Batrachoididae (Toadfishes)
Porichthys
Porichthys plectrodon (Atlantic Midshipman)
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.
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Characters
Moderately elongate body, tapering and compressed posteriorly; anal fin with 31-35 rays; body lacks scales and has four lateral lines; lateral line pores have cirri; photophores on head and body in rows following lateral lines; branchiostegal photophore series has forward-directed, U-shaped commissure with 35-47 photophores; vertebrae number 43-47; head moderately depressed, lacks tentacles, fleshy tabs, and barbels; lower jaw extends beyond upper jaw; mouth moderately oblique; jaws extend posterior to eye; teeth of upper jaw, vomer, and palatine in single row; palatine teeth number 6-8, enlarged and directed forward; some jaw teeth caninelike; teeth in lower jaw in two rows anteriorly, with outer row enlarged and strongly hooked; gill rakers on first arch number 10-17; operculum has single strong, solid spine; suboperculum poorly developed and lacks spine; head length 20.8-23.7% SL, head width 13.1-16.7% SL, orbit diameter 3.8-4% SL, interorbital width 5.1-6% SL, snout to second dorsal fin origin 29.3-33.6% SL, snout to anal fin origin 38.1-42.1% SL, pectoral fin length 21.5-24.3% SL, pelvic fin length 11.1-13.7% SL; pectoral fin has 17-18 rays and discrete gland between bases of uppermost rays; first dorsal fin has two short, solid spines; second dorsal fin has 34-39 rays
Pale to dark with small- to medium-sized brown to black spots in two rows on second dorsal fin and upper parts of head and body; belly light (golden in life); pectoral fin has faint dark spots, and lower rays are slightly grayish; anal fin has black margin; caudal fin dark at base, white medially, and progressively darker toward margin
Distribution
Western Atlantic from Cape Henry, Virginia, to northern South America, including the Gulf of Mexico
Habitat Associations
Continental shelf to 256 m, generally found in less than 91 m on soft bottoms
Soft bottoms
Biology
Bioluminescence thought to be used during spawning
Inhabits mud or sand bottoms (Ref. 5217). Most common on rather shallow offshore banks, such as commercial shrimp grounds; less common inshore.
Max length: 29.0 cm TL; common length: 20.0 cm TL; max weight: 11 g.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2012-08-21. Resilience: Medium (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
Lane 1967 (as P. porosissimus)
Gilbert 1968 (as P. porosissimus)
Hoese and Moore 1977 (as P. porosissimus)
Uyeno et al. 1983
C. R. Robins et al. 1986
Cervigon 1991
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.
Uyeno, T., K. Matsuura and E. Fujii (eds.) (1983) Fishes trawled off Suriname and French Guiana. Japan Marine Fishery Resource Research Center, Tokyo, Japan. 519 p.
Bowman, R.E., C.E. Stillwell, W.L. Michaels and M.D. Grosslein (2000) Food of northwest Atlantic fishes and two common species of squid. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-NE 155, 138 p.
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