TaiBNET

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Lophiiformes
Family Lophiidae
Genus Lophius
Lophius litulon (Jordan, 1902)

Provider:

Hsuan-Ching Ho

Synonyms：

Lophiomus litulon

Citation:

Masuda, H., K. Amaoka, C. Araga, T. Uyeno and T. Yoshino, 1984. The fishes of the Japanese Archipelago. Vol. 1. Tokai University Press, Tokyo, Japan. 437 p. (text).

Character:

Body disk rounded; head broad and depressed; skin smoothly and scaleless, with numerous tasseled, fleshy appendages; lateral ridge of frontal bone with two series of low conical spine; pseudobranch present; interorbit broad and slightly caved; humeral spine well developed and complex with 2-3 small spines; illicium short, slender, devoid of tendrils, usually shorter than the second dorsal spine; esca with simple pennant-like flap, without long cirri and eye-like appendages; second dorsal spine short, darkly pigmented distally and with dark tendrils present; third dorsal spine long, darkly pigment and devoid of tendril; fourth, fifth, and sixth dorsal spine short, devoid of tendrils an dark pigment at bases. Body with dark-brown irregular reticular vein on yellow-brown background on dorsal surface; ventral surface light; underside of pectoral fin dark distally; anal and caudal fins dark; oral cavity pale or dusky, without color pattern.

Habitat:

Marine. Bathydemersal, found in the outer continental shelf and upper slope, usually in depth 100-600 m. First dorsal spine highly modified into a long rod with a lure at the end call illicium and esca, acts as a fishing lure to attracting small fish and

Distribution:

Restricted to the northwest Pacific from Japan to East China Sea. It is rare in Taiwan, its southmost distributing range extend to the Northeast off Yilan.

Utility:

Serve as high value and delicious seafood. Some used in Chinese medicine.

Name Code:

381160

IUCN Red List:DD

Marine