Atlantic midshipman

Porichthys plectrodon

FAMILY

Batrachoididae

TAXONOMY

Porichthys plectrodon Jordan and Gilbert, 1882, Galveston, Texas, United States.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

None known.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The maximum size is 8.6 in (218 mm) standard length. There are two spines in the first dorsal fin, and the second dorsal and anal fins are long. There are rows of photophores on the head and body, and those on the underside of the head are U-shaped.

DISTRIBUTION

Cape Henry, Virginia south to northern Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

HABITAT

Prefers mud bottoms where it buries itself during the day

BEHAVIOR

It produces both aggressive and mating vocalizations. Photophores may be used as a countershading mechanism to avoid predators while foraging in the water column at night.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Although some benthic invertebrates and fishes have been found in their stomachs, most of the food consists of planktonic crustaceans and larval fishes taken at night while foraging in the water column.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

It moves from deeper water into shallow bays and spawns in the spring and summer. The reproductive behavior is typical of the family.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Used as an experimental animal.