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

Zaprora silenus Jordan, 1896
Prowfish
Family: Zaproridae

Introduction to the Fish

Source: Distribution of Zaprora silenus as compiled by Aquamaps

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Species Information

Dorsal spines (total): 54 - 57; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 29 - 30. Caudal rounded.

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

Biology

Species Biology

Adults occur near bottom (Ref. 2850). Young to 7.2 cm are pelagic or bathypelagic, usually associated with jellyfish (Ref. 6885). Juveniles take shelter under the medusae and are often mistaken for medusafish Icichthys lockingtoni (Ref. 50276). Environment: demersal; marine; depth range 0 - 675 m (Ref. 50550), usually 0 - 500 m (Ref. 28981). Climate: boreal; 0 – 4°C (Ref. 56462); 66°N - 34°N

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

Distribution

North Pacific: Hokkaido, Japan and western Kamchatka, Russia to Navarin Canyon in the Bering Sea, Attu Island in the Aleutian chain and San Miguel Island, California, USA.

Source: 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: 2025-06-23 11:55:29 AM]

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