Teleostei (teleosts) >
Ophidiiformes (Cusk eels) >
Bythitidae (Livebearing brotulas)
Etymology: Brosmophycis: Greek, brosomai, bibrosko = to eat up, to devour + Greek, phykis = a fish that lives among alga (Greek, phyke) + Greek, ops =appearance (Ref. 45335); marginata: marginatus meaning edged (Ref. 6885).
More on author: Ayres.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 3 - 256 m (Ref. 2850), usually 15 - ? m (Ref. 2850). Subtropical; 59°N - 14°N, 137°W - 92°W
Eastern Pacific: Petersburg, southeastern Alaska to Ensenada, northern Baja California, Mexico.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 46.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2850)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 98 - 110; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 72 - 81; Vertebrae: 63 - 65. Dorsal fin base covered with loose skin; caudal small and rounded; anal fin base covered with skin; pectorals rounded, almost pedunculate; two pelvic fin rays, outer ray of pelvic fins long, slender and filamentous, twice the length of inner ray (Ref. 6885). Bright red to brown on dorsal surface, nearly white on ventral surface of the body; pale red on ventral surface of head; margins of dorsal and anal fins red; bright red on caudal and pectoral fins; lips pink; mucus secretion reddish (Ref. 6885). Branchiostegal rays: 7 (Ref. 36488).
A common cryptic species (Ref. 34024). Found in rocky areas (Ref. 2850). Live-bearers with planktonic larvae (Ref. 36488). Flesh considered sweet and fine-textured but rarely available (Ref. 27436).
Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205).
Nielsen, J.G., D.M. Cohen, D.F. Markle and C.R. Robins, 1999. Ophidiiform fishes of the world (Order Ophidiiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of pearlfishes, cusk-eels, brotulas and other ophidiiform fishes known to date. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(18):178p. Rome: FAO. (Ref. 34024)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 7.7 - 23.3, mean 10.8 °C (based on 234 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00447 (0.00172 - 0.01163), b=3.10 (2.87 - 3.33), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec=200).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (36 of 100).
