Common Name
Alligatorfish
Year Described
Bloch, 1786
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 5-6
Anal Fin: 5-6
Pectoral Fin: 10-11
Pelvic Fin: I, 2
Caudal Fin: 10 (principle)
Branchiostegal Rays: 5-6
Vertebrae: 48-52
Body very elongate, slender, and tapering posteriorly, with a flattened head. Body and head covered with armored plates. Eyes large. Several rows of low nodules on the body (correspond to bony plates). Head expanded laterally and flattened, with numerous low bony ridges. Snout protruding with a curved spine on each side. Mouth subterminal; reaches anterior margin of eye. A single dorsal fin (no spines). Anal fin origin directly under dorsal fin origin. Pectoral fins large. Caudal fin small and rounded.
Color
Brown above with 4-5 darker brown saddles from behind pectoral fin to the caudal peduncle. A few smaller saddles or blotches in between larger saddles. Head mottled with shades of brown. Ventral half of body abruptly whitish. Pectoral and caudal fins with several dark brown spot-bands. Others fins with dark spots.
Size
Maximum size to 18cm SL.
Habitat
Benthic from 18-332m over soft to hard, shelly bottoms.
Range
Northwestern Atlantic: Greenland to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Rarely south to New Jersey.
References
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Editors. 2012. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication: www.fishbase.org, version (06/2012).
Fahay, M.P. 2005. Agonidae. In M.P. Fahay, Early stages of fishes in the western North Atlantic Ocean, Vol II, p. 982-986. Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, 1696 p.