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Species: Porichthys myriaster, Specklefin midshipman

All Families:   All Genera:   All Species:

back 9-10 saddles
D & pectoral - spots and bars
D & A not joined to C
lights in U band across front chin
10-14 lower gill rakers
LL ends ~ 10 pores before its line of photophores
A 33-38

Porichthys myriaster Hubbs & Schultz, 1939

Specklefin midshipman

Body compressed, elongate; head a little flattened above, no tentacles;one solid spine on opercle; no subopercular spines; teeth like canines; 12 (10-14) lower gill rakers;  first dorsal fin 2 solid spines, separate from second dorsal fin; second dorsal 31-32 rays; anal rays 37 (33-38); dorsal and anal fins not joined to tail; no scales; 4 lateral lines on body with light organs; lower lateral line ends ~ 10 pores BEFORE same line of light organs; row of light organs under each side of chin connected across front by a forward pointing U shaped row of light organs.

Iridescent purplish grey to brown above, yellowish below; when present 9-10 (8-12) saddles on upper body; top of head unmarked; pectoral and dorsal fins with small spots and bars; anal fin with dark to black margin in adults.

Size: 51 cm.

Habitat: mud and sand bottoms, around rocky areas as well.

Depth: 0-126 m, usually < 45m.

Point Arguello, California to Magdalena Bay, Baja California.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore Only
  • Inshore
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
  • Bottom only
Habitat
  • Mud
  • Sand & gravel
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
  • Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
FishBase Habitat
  • Demersal
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • No Data
Diet
  • Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
  • Bony fishes
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
  • No Data
Egg Type
  • No pelagic larva
  • No pelagic phase
  • Brooded
  • No data
Global Endemism
  • East Pacific endemic
  • TEP non-endemic
  • All species
Regional Endemism
  • California province, primarily
  • Continent only
  • Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) non-endemic
  • Temperate Eastern Pacific, primarily
  • All species
  • Continent
Residency
  • Vagrant
Climate Zone
  • North Temperate (Californian Province &/or Northern Gulf of California)
  • Northern Subtropical (Cortez Province + Sinaloan Gap)
IUCN Red List
  • Least concern
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 51
Depth Range Min
  • 0
Depth Range Max
  • 126