Wrymouth

Wrymouth
Wrymouth
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cryptacanthodidae
Genus: Cryptacanthodes
Species: C. maculatus
Binomial name
Cryptacanthodes maculatus
Storer, 1839

The wrymouth, Cryptacanthodes maculatus, sometimes called ghostfish, is a slim, eel-like creature belongs to the wrymouth family Cryptacanthodidae. It outgrows the blennies, its relatives, and may reach 3 ft (or even over 5 feet [1]). A low spiny dorsal fin stands along the entire back. This includes about 70 spines and unites with the caudal and anal fins. Small eyes lie near the top of its big head. The mouth slants sharply above a ponderous lower jaw. Along its reddish brown upper sides extend several irregular rows of small dark spots. The dorsal and anal fins also show spots. The lack of ventral fins and a pronounced upward pointing mouth are characteristic.

Contents

Distribution and habitat

Dwelling along the North Atlantic coast of North America, it ordinarily hugs the bottom from shallow water down to considerable depths. It creates burrows in the mud bottom on which it lives. About 2 inches around and 1.5 to 3 in below the surface, the burrow branches into tunnels. Sometimes, however, the burrow stands as high as 4 feet above the low water mark. It begins in a centrally placed mound with smaller openings along the tunnel and at its end. Usually it eats small invertebrates such as shrimp and crabs. At night, they may be seen protruding about a head's length from their burrows, but are seldom seen out in the open. In thousands of hours of night diving in their habitat, we only observed one out of its burrow once, and when disturbed it returned immediately to the nearest opening. It spawns in the winter, probably in deep water. Little is known about their food, but it seems likely that they feed mainly on amphipods and mud shrimp[disambiguation needed ] and perhaps the occasional small fish.

Wrymouth in its burrow

Reproduction

Almost nothing is known about their reproductive biology. Small, but well developed fry have been recorded from the northern parts of their range in early spring, suggesting that spawning may take place in winter. Eggs and early fry are completely unknown, suggesting the possibility that spawning may take place inside the burrow system. Nothing is known about territoriality, mating strategies, or whether they provide parental care.

In the aquarium

In aquaria the wrymouth has been known to utilize a rubber tube as a ready-made burrow. ]

References

  • E. C. Raney "Wrymouth." The Wise Fishermen's Encyclopedia (1951)

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Wrymouth — Wry mouth , n. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of large, elongated, marine fishes of the genus {Cryptacanthodes}, especially {Cryptacanthodes maculatus} of the American coast. A whitish variety is called {ghostfish}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • wrymouth — /ruy mowth /, n., pl. (esp. collectively) wrymouth, (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) wrymouths / mowdhz /. 1. any blennioid fish of the family Stichaeidae, having a large, upturned mouth, esp. Cryptacanthodes maculatus, a bottom… …   Universalium

  • wrymouth — dėmėtoji kreivažiotė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Cryptacanthodes maculatus angl. bastard cusk; congo eel; ghostfish; wrymouth rus. пятнистый криворот ryšiai: platesnis terminas – dėmėtosios… …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • wrymouth — noun eellike Atlantic bottom fish with large almost vertical mouth • Syn: ↑ghostfish, ↑Cryptacanthodes maculatus • Hypernyms: ↑blennioid fish, ↑blennioid • Member Holonyms: ↑Cryptacanthodes, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • wrymouth — noun Cryptacanthodes maculatus, a slim, eel like fish related to the blenny …   Wiktionary

  • Bolesław III Wrymouth — ( Bolesław III Krzywousty ); 1085 – 1138) was Duke of Poland from 1102. He was the son of Duke Władysław I Herman and Judith of Bohemia, daughter of Vratislaus II of Bohemia. His wife, the mother of his children, was Salome von Berg Schelklingen …   Wikipedia

  • giant wrymouth — didžioji kreivažiotė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Delolepis gigantea angl. giant wrymouth rus. гигантский криворот; гигантский стихей ryšiai: platesnis terminas – didžiosios kreivažiotės …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • dwarf wrymouth — aleutinė kreivažiotė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Lyconectes aleutensis angl. dwarf wrymouth; red devil rus. алеутский криворот ryšiai: platesnis terminas – aleutinės kreivažiotės …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • Cryptacanthodes maculatus — Wrymouth Wry mouth , n. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of large, elongated, marine fishes of the genus {Cryptacanthodes}, especially {Cryptacanthodes maculatus} of the American coast. A whitish variety is called {ghostfish}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ghostfish — Wrymouth Wry mouth , n. (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of large, elongated, marine fishes of the genus {Cryptacanthodes}, especially {Cryptacanthodes maculatus} of the American coast. A whitish variety is called {ghostfish}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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