Genus: Urophycis, Phycid Hake, Phycid Hakes

UROPHYCIS

PHYCID HAKES

Body soft, elongate, tail base narrow; no V shaped ridge on top of head; gill openings wide, extending above pectoral fins; mouth large, extends to under center of eye or further back, overhung by snout; chin barbel short; a well developed patch of teeth on front of roof of mouth; fins without spines; 2 dorsal fins, 1st short based and triangular, 8-13 rays, the first ray not elongated; second dorsal long based, with straight edge; 1 anal fin, long based, without an indentation on edge; pelvic fins under end of opercle, bases well separated, with 2 rays forming moderately long feelers; tail fin separate from dorsal and anal fins, well developed, rounded; pectoral fin not reaching beyond anal fin origin; lateral line system on head with pores; scales round, overlapping, not set at right angles, lateral line complete.

A W Atlantic genus with 7 species; 5 species entering shallow water in our area.