Order

Perciformes/Zoarcoidei

  Class

Teleostei

No. in FishBase

Genera : 1 | Species : 1 Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes

  Environment

Fresh : No | Brackish : No | Marine : Yes

  Division

Marine

  Aquarium

none

  First Fossil Record

     

  Remark

Distribution: Northern North Pacific. Body extremely slender and elongate; dorsal and anal fins long and tall giving the fish the appearance of a bird's wing feather, or writing quill. Head small, 4-7% of body length, with a broad fleshy appendage at the symphysis of the lower jaw. Dorsal fin starts at nape and comprises 79-90 isolated, low spines followed by 130-157 soft rays. Anal fin begins far forward (at about 30% of standard length) with 166-196 soft rays. Dorsal and anal fins confluent with much reduced caudal fin and, with growth of fish, fleshy extension of tail which becomes relatively longer and almost filamentous. Pectoral fins rounded, with 11-13 rays. Pelvic fins and girdle absent. One pair of nostrils (posterior absent). Scales cycloid, very small and scattered; or absent. Mechanosensory canals of the head reduced, remaining canals with few pores: nasal 1, interorbital 1, postorbital 1, preopercular 3, mandibular 2. Trunk lateral line canal absent, superficial neuromasts presumed present. Jaw teeth closely set, uniserial, with sharp conical tips; vomerine and palatine teeth absent. Gill membranes broadly united, free from the isthmus. Gill rakers as low, stout nubs. Branchiostegal rays 5-7. Pyloric caeca and swim bladder absent. Vertebrae 222-240. Yellow or orange to greenish gray, somewhat translucent; dark streak along body and others on head in preserved specimens. Attains up to 39 cm length not including caudal filament. Found at depths to 360 m or more, typically at shallower depths over the middle and inner continental shelf. May burrow in sand and mud during the day, but their daytime behavior is not known with certainty. Migrate at night to the surface to feed and are attracted by lights to docks and boats.

  Etymology

Greek, ptylon = feather + Greek, ichthys = fish ( Ref. 45335).

  Reproductive guild

  Typical activity level

  Main Ref.

Mecklenburg, C.W. 2003

  Coordinator

  Deep Fin Classification

Osteichthyes | Actinopterygii | Actinopteri | Neopterygii | Teleostei | Osteoglossocephalai | Clupeocephala | Euteleosteomorpha | Neoteleostei | Eurypterygia | Ctenosquamata | Acanthomorphata | Acanthopterygii | Percomorphaceae | Eupercaria | | | Perciformes | Cottoidei | Zoarcales | Ptilichthyidae