Phycis phycis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Forkbeard | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gadiformes |
| Family: | Phycidae |
| Genus: | Phycis |
| Species: | P. phycis |
| Binomial name | |
| Phycis phycis (Linnaeus, 1766) | |
 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Blennius phycis (Linnaeus, 1766) | |
Phycis phycis, the forkbeard, is a species of phycid hakes in the family Phycidae.[2][3]
Genus and species names Phycis derive from Greek, phykon meaning seaweed, as these fishes usually live hidden among seaweeds.[2]
Description
Phycis phycis commonly can reach a length of 25 centimetres (9.8 in), with a maximum length of 65 centimetres (26 in) in males.[2][4]
These fishes have a wide mouth with thick lips. A barbel is present on the chin. They do not have any thorn in the fins, but show elongated pelvic-fin rays reduced to bifid filaments, with 2 soft rays. The dorsal fin is a double and rounded (the first can have 9 or 11 soft rays, the second 56 or 65). The caudal fin is rounded, with 27 or 29 soft rays. Vertical fins distally reaching the origin of the anal fin. They are dark, sometimes with a pale margin. Body color is dark brown or gray on the back, but ventrally the color becomes paler.[2][5]
