E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Wildlife of British Columbia

Icosteus aenigmaticus Lockington, 1880
Ragfish
Family: Icosteidae

Source: Distribution of Icosteus aenigmaticus as compiled by Aquamaps

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Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 52 - 55; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 34 - 40. Pectorals rounded, pedunculate (Ref. 6885). Generally of a chocolate color (Ref. 6885). Young more robust, with an expanded and rounded caudal fin, 5 pelvic rays, and a brown and yellow irregularly blotched with faint purple color, dusky on fins (Ref. 6885).

Source: FishBase. FishBase. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H Hammann. 1983 . (Ref. 2850)

Biology

Species Biology

Adults occur near bottom; juveniles in shallow water or offshore near the surface (Ref. 50277). Feeds on jellyfish (Ref. 50277), fishes and squids (Ref. 2850), as well as octopuses (Ref. 4525). Environment: bathypelagic; marine; depth range 0 - 1420 m (Ref. 50550), usually 18 - 732 m (Ref. 2850) Climate: deep-water; 66°N - 32°N

Source: FishBase. FishBase. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H Hammann. 1983 . (Ref. 2850)

Distribution

North Pacific: Japan to southeastern Alaska and to Point Loma, southern California, USA.

Source: FishBase. FishBase. Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H Hammann. 1983 . (Ref. 2850)

Status Information

Origin Status	Provincial Status	BC List (Red Blue List)	COSEWIC
Native	SNR	No Status	Not Listed

BC Ministry of Environment: BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer--the authoritative source for conservation information in British Columbia.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Genetic and lineage information (NCBI Taxonomy Browser)

Additional Range and Status Information Links

NatureServe Explorer
University of Alaska Museum

Additional Photo Sources

Flickr Image Search
Google Image Search
Images from Calphoto

Related Databases

fishbase

General References

FishBase References
Google Scholar Search

Recommended citation: Author, Date. Page title. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2021. E-Fauna BC: Electronic Atlas of the Fauna of British Columbia [efauna.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 2024-10-13 1:26:48 AM]

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