Fish ID Please

[pagojoe]

If this fish were truly a tropical fish, I could probably ID it, but since it's not exactly tropical (panhandle of Florida) and I apparently don't have the references to ID it, could someone help me out? Maybe I've just overlooked it, but it should be an easy one since it's so distinctive.

Thanks in advance,



Don

 

[fishnerd]

it looks like a Brotula sp. probably barbata

 

[namxas]

Agreed...I'm thinking Brotula sp. as well.

 

[cside]

yup i think its a brotula. they get bigger as you can see here: http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=113737

 

[pagojoe]

Many thanks, guys! I browsed through all the Brotula pics on Fishbase, and it looks like all the fish there showed the dorsal/anal/tail fins to be more or less continuous. I don't know if that would change from juvenile to adult, but these fish all had fairly distinct tails, with an abrupt ending to the dorsal and a somewhat less distinct end to the anal fin. The world record Brotula barbata was caught within a couple of miles of where I caught these, so maybe the fins and tail tend to fuse as they mature?



Don

 

[pagojoe]

Here's another pic of a different specimen. It shows a few additional details.

 

[michael_cb_125]

While I know not correct, When I glance at the last photo it reminds me of a young cod.

~Michael

 

[philter4]

I would guess a juvenile Southern hake, Urophycis floridana. It is in the genus Urophycis, but there are 3 species in Florida, U. earlli is only found on the east coast, the other two are found on both coasts and into the Gulf of Mexico. U. floridana has 2 black spots behind the eye and the lateral line has black and white pattern, and the third species, U. regiahas two dusky lines between the eye and pectoral fins. I see the black spots in both photos, but you have the fish, if it has lines instead of spots then you still have the ID. All 3 of these get big and will eat anything they can fit in the mouth so be careful with it's tankmates. By the way, these are cod, so Micheal is correct at least at the family level.

 

[michael_cb_125]

philter4- That is exactly what I was thinking but could not remember the name for the life of me.

~Michael

 

[pagojoe]

Excellent, I spent a couple of hours looking through a lot of different families trying to ID this fish. Thanks Michael and Philter. I'm going with U. floridana.

Cheers,



Don

 

[michael_cb_125]

Throw him in your tank for a few years and then we can feast!!

~Michael