Common Name
Atlantic Midshipman
Year Described
Jordan & Gilbert, 1882
Identification
Dorsal Fin: II, 33-39
Anal Fin: 30-35
Pectoral Fin: 16-19
Pelvic Fin: I, 2
Gill Rakers: 10-17 (total)
Vertebrae: 41-47
Photophores: 21-30 (mandibular), 34-49 (branchiostegal), 32-49 (gular), 29-41 (gastric), 31-46 (ventral), 30-40 (anal)
Photophores on body. Anterior end of branchiostegal photophore series with a forward-facing, U-shaped commissure. A single opercular spine. Uppermost pectoral fin rays with glands present. No scales. Four lateral lines.
Color
Body pattern highly variable: from overall darkly pigmented with diffuse spots (deepwater) to pale with bold dark spotting on the dorsal half of the body. Often with several dark saddles. Pectoral fin lightly pigmented with dark pigment basally. Anal fin with dark margin. Dorsal fin with interrupted dark margin. Basal caudal fin with dark pigment.
Size
Maximum size to 290mm SL.
Habitat
Benthic
Range
Continental waters from Virginia to N.E. Brazil. Not sound at insular Caribbean sites.
References
Gilbert, C. R. 1968. Western Atlantic batrachoidid fishes of the genus Porichthys, including three new species. Bulletin of Marine Science v. 18 (no. 3): 671-730.