Phycis phycis

Phycis phycis, the forkbeard, is a species of phycid hakes in the family Phycidae.[2][3]

Forkbeard

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
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 furcatus (Bowdich, 1825)
Phycis limbatus (Valenciennes, 1838)
Phycis mediterraneus (Delaroche, 1809)
Tinca marina (Walbaum, 1792)

Etymology

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]

Biology

Forkbeards are nocturnal, during the day they hide between rocks. They feed on small fish and several species of invertebrates. Breeding takes place from January to May.[2] They are relatively slow growing and long lived fishes.[6]

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in the western Mediterranean, in Portugal and in western coast of northern Africa and the Azores. These fishes live on hard and sandy-muddy bottoms close to the rocks usually, at depths of 100–650 m.[2][5]

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References
  1. Iwamoto, T. (2015). "Phycis phycis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T198604A60811743. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T198604A60811743.en.
  2. Fishbase
  3. IT IS Report
  4. Göthel, H., 1992. - "Fauna marina del Mediterráneo". Ed. Omega, S.A., Barcelona.
  5. Cohen, D.M.; T. Inada, T. Iwamoto y N. Scialabba (1990). - «FAO species catalogue. Vol. 10. Gadiform fishes of the world (Order Gadiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cods, hakes, grenadiers and other gadiform fishes known to date». - FAO Fish. Synop 10 (125): 442.
  6. Ana Rita Costa Abecasis, Angela Canha, Dália Reisa, Mário Rui Pinho and João Gil-Pereira Age and growth of the forkbeard Phycis phycis (Gadidae) from the Azorean archipelago, North Atlantic Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
  • Patrick Louisy, Guida all'identificazione dei pesci marini d'Europa e del Mediterraneo, a cura di Trainito, Egidio, Milano, Il Castello, 2006, ISBN 88-8039-472-X.
  • Sergio Pili, Pesci:guida pratica per il consumatore, Nuoro, 1997



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