Family Zoarcidae | Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Bothrocara brunneum, the twoline eelpout, is a benthic species of fish of the Zoarcidae family. The species is the only fish of the eelpouts to have two lateral lines and short blunt-ended gill rakers. The species is found between the Bering Sea to the shores of San Francisco, and also Baja California Peninsula and Attu Island.
Contents
It inhabits the bottom of seas or oceans and is generally found in a depth ranging between 2,000 feet (610 m) and 6,000 feet (1,829 m). It has been hypothesized from an analysis of stomach content that the species feeds mainly on bottom-dwelling creatures. Etymologically, Bothrocara stands for "cavity head" and brunneum for "brown", named respectively after the appearance of the head and the tinted brown colour of the body. It was named "twoline eelpout" for its unique two lateral lines.
Description
The twoline eelpout has been found to have two lateral lines, the only one of its family, and also has a small blunt-ended gill raker. Its dorsal and anal fins are covered in a gelatinous tissue. Twoline eelpouts are bathydemersal (below 650 feet), and can generally be found at a depth between 2,000 feet (610 m) and 6,000 feet (1,829 m). They generally average approximately 1327 eggs per batch.
Feeding habits
It has been hypothesized that, judging by an analysis of stomach content, the species feeds primarily on bottom-dwelling creatures, habitually eating anything it comes across that has food value and that is small enough to ingest. As predators, they are capable of being a specialist species.