THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

118 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
Appearance: Scaleless with eyes high on
a large head, large mouth and small gills.
Pelvic fins are forward of the pectoral fins;
two separate dorsal fins. Olive brown to
bronze or dark iridescent purple color on
top and paler underneath. Up to 30 cm long.
The dorsal fin holds a mild poison. Possesses
photophores, which are arranged on the
underside of the head in a U-shape and used
to attract prey.
Diet: Omnivore: eats worms, crustaceans,
mollusks and other fishes. Hides in rock
crevices among bottom vegetation, or
digs dens in bottom sediments to ambush
prey. Diet provides the ingredients for
fluorescence.
Reproduction and Development: After
building and guarding a nest of rocks, the
male entices females by humming his “love
song,” a loud sound produced by vibrating
a set of sonic muscles on its air bladder sixthousand
times a minute for more than an
hour at a time. The female chooses her mate
(we can only speculate about her preference
for humming volume, length, or tone!),
deposits her eggs in the nest and the male
fertilizes and guards them. Males try to attract
several females to the same nest.
Mortality/Longevity: Not endangered but are
taken by local fishermen as a food fish and by
trawlers as a source of fish meal and oil. They
are prey for seals and sea lions.
Remarks: An Academy connection: For many
years Sausalito residents complained of an
annoying noise that kept them awake at
night during the summer months. The cause
was uncertain, but theories were rampant:
underwater surveillance equipment, secret
weapons testing, extraterrestrial intrusions
were all put forth. Then in the early 90s
the Academy’s Senior Curator and then
Director of Steinhart Aquarium John McCosker
investigated and ultimately reassured irritated
residents that the sound had no destructive
intent, only a reproductive one.
Study of the fish’s remarkable muscle endurance
may lead to clues on fighting human muscle
disease.
ORDER OPHIDIIFORMES
Red Brotula
Brosmophycis marginata (Bythitidae)
Livebearing Brotulas
Distribution: Eastern Pacific coast; Alaska to
Baja California.
Habitat: Substrate of rocky areas at depths of
3¬–250 m, usually found at 50 m or more.
Appearance: Elongate fish. Red to reddish
brown, often darker above, lighter below.
Fins typically reddish with dorsal and anal fin
margins bright red. Four threadlike pelvic fins
extend from below the gill cavity. Lips pink.
Max length: 46 cm.
Diet: Polychaete worms, small crustaceans and
clams, and other invertebrates.
R e p r o d u c t i o n a n d D e v e l o p m e n t :
Ovoviviparous; sexes separate. Males of the
family Bythitidae have a copulatory organ
(penis).
Remarks: This secretive little fish, usually
hidden among rocks at considerable depth, is
seldom seen by humans.
Flesh is reported to be sweet and fine-textured
though rarely available from this hard-to-find
species. One source noted the red brotula has
never been caught by hook and line.
ORDER LOPHIFORMES
Frogfish
Antennarius sp (Antennariidae)
Frogfishes
Distribution: Tropical oceans worldwide.
Habitat: Rocky bottoms, coral reefs, and
lagoons between 5–70 m.
Appearance: Color can be yellow, red, orange,
brown, grey or black and spotted or mottled;
up to 35 cm. Can change color over a few days
to match its surroundings.
Diet: Small fishes, shrimps and crabs.
Reproduction and Development: Oviparous;
external fertilization. Eggs are bound in a
ribbon-like sheath of gelatinous mucus called
an “egg raft” or “veil.” No parental care.
Remarks: The frogfish, like anglerfishes in
general, has a long filament attached to the
head. The modified first spine of the anterior
dorsal fin, this filament is decorated with an