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Unidentified Animal 11

Based on the videos below see if you can identify the specimen that was retrieved in the otter trawl.

 

For each question there will be 1 - 3 choices for you to decide between. To move to the next option, click "Choice A", "Choice B", or "Choice C". If you answer a question incorrectly, you will be directed to a drawing of an organism. Click the blue button below the drawing to return to the question to try again.

Question 1

Choice A: Without a fringe of fleshy tabs hanging from lower jaw.

Choice B: With a fringe of fleshy tabs hanging from lower jaw.

Question 1
Question 2

Question 2

Choice A: With 3 separate feelers beneath each of the winglike pectoral fins; with a flattened, shovel-like snout.

Choice B: No feelers; snout is rounded.

Question 3

Question 3

Choice A: With 1 or 2 obvious horizontal narrow stripes on each side of body; with one dark blotch on pectoral fins; tail fin is straight; pectoral fins reach back to 9th or 10th ray of second dorsal fin.

Choice B: No horizontal stripes (but may have about 5 indistinct, broad vertical bands); with two dark blotches on pectoral fins; tail fin is concave (curves inward); pectoral fins reach back only to 5th or 6th ray of second dorsal fin.

Question 4

Question 4

Choice A: Winglike pectoral fins are very long, reaching nearly to tail; first two spines of first dorsal fin are separate, not connected by a membrane.

Choice B: Winglike pectoral fins are short, reaching back only to the beginning of the second dorsal fin; first two spines of first dorsal fin are not separate from the rest of the dorsal fin.

Queston 5

Question 5

Choice A: The largest (uppermost) cheek spine if four times as long as the one below it, and extend back to the edge of the gill cover.

Choice B: The uppermost cheek spine is no more than twice as long as the one below it, and does not reach more than half way back to gill opening.

Question 6

Question 6

Choice A: Anal fin with 13 or 14 rays; with a tiny pore or slit on each side of throat behind the last gill arch; may grow longer than 20 cm (8").

Choice B: Anal fin with 10 or 11 rays; no pore or slit on sides of throat; never grows longer than 20m (8").

Question 7

Question 7

Choice A: Body very broad and flat; with long, separate dorsal spines on tip of snout, the first of which has a flap of skin on its tip used as a fishing lure to attract other fish to eat; very large, often growing over 1 m (3') long.

Choice B: Body not especially flat; first dorsal fin spines are connected by a membrane; rarely grows over 50 cm (20") long.

Question 8

Question 8

Choice A: First dorsal fin has very ragged outline and is decorated with fleshy tabs; first dorsal fin is longer than second dorsal fin; often bright red or reddish purple. 

Choice B: First dorsal fin is not ragged or decorated; first dorsal fin is shorter than second dorsal fin; olive green or brown.

striped searobin

Prionotus evolans, striped searobin

Reddish brown sides marked with 1 or 2 dark horizontal stripes, pectoral fins are orange to brown with one dark blotch; up to 45 cm (18") long; common south of Cape Cod, rare to the north.

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dark horizontal stripes on both sides

straight tail fin

winglike pectoral fins reach back to 9th or 10th ray of second dorsal fin

flattened snout

3 separate feelers

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CORRECT

You have successfully identified the Striped Searobin

Prionotus carolinus, northern searobin

Brownish or grayish above with about 5 darker vertical bands, pectoral fins yellow or orange marked with two darker bars; usually less than 25 cm (10") long; very common south of Cape Cod, rare to the north.

Untitled design (18).png

vertical bands on sides

winglike pectoral fins reach back to 5th or 6th ray of second dorsal fin

concave tail fin

flattened snout

3 separate feelers

northern searobi

Dactylopterus volitans, flying gurnard

Brownish to olive green above, sides with irregular salmon colored markings, winglike pectoral fins with blue markings, reddish cross bars on tail fin; up to about 25 cm (10") long; not common.

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first two spines of first dorsal fin are separate

winglike pectoral fins reach back nearly to tail

no feelers

flying gurnard

Myoxocephalus octodecemspinosus, longhorn sculpin

Green, yellow, or brown with darker blotches and spots, usually less than 25 cm (10") long.

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no feelers

winglike pectoral fins reach second dorsal fin

long naked tipped cheek spines reach gill openings

longhorn sculpin

Lophius americanus, goosefish

Dark brown on top; can grow over 1 m (39") long.

spine with "fishing lure"

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fleshy tabs

goosefish

Myoxocephalus scorpius, shorthorn sculpin

Red or brown on top with blotches on sides; rarely over 50 cm (20") long.

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short spines on head and gill cover

pores on throat

13 - 14 rays in anal fin

winglike pectoral fins reach second dorsla fin

no feelers

Shorthorn Sculpin

Hemitripterus americanus, sea raven

Reddish on top, yellow belly; up to 50 cm (20") long.

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first dorsal fin longer than second, has ragged outline

fleshy tabs

fleshy tabs

sea raven

Myoxocephalus aenaeus, grubby

Light or dark gray with darker shading; up to 15 cm (6") long.

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short spines on head and

gill covers

no pores on throat

10-11 rays in anal fin

winglike pectoral fins reach second dorsal fin

no feelers

Grubby

Opsanustau, oyster toadfish

Olive green or brown; usually less than 25 cm (10") long.

second dorsal fin longer than first dorsal fin

fleshy tabs

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toadfish
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