Category: Misc.

Yellow Snake Eel

Snake Eels and Worm Eels: Family Ophichthidae Species: Ophichthus zophochir (Jordan & Gilbert, 1882); Ophichthus, from two Greek words meaning serpent and fish, and the Greek zophochir, for darkness and hand (dark pectoral fins). Alternate Names: Eww, a snake! In Mexico called Tieso Amarillo; in…

Basketweave Cusk-Eel

Cusk-Eel from the Newport Pier Cusk-Eels: Family Ophidiidae Species: Ophidion Scrippsae (Hubbs, 1916); from the words otophidium (referring to the large sacklike inner ear) and scrippsi (in honor of Ellen Browning Scripps who helped establish the Scripps Institution of Oceanography). Formerly Otophidium scrippsi. Alternate Names: Eel…

Specklefin Midshipman

Toadfishes: Family Batrachoididae Species: Porichthys myriaster (Hubbs & Schultz, 1939); from the Greek words porus (a passage), ichthys (fish), myri (many), and aster (stars—in reference to the dots on the head and body). Alternate Names: Toadfish, speckled midshipman, bullhead, singing fish. Called sapo aleta manchada…

Pacific Hake

Hakes: Family Merlucciidae Species: Merluccius productus (Ayres, 1855); from the Latin words merluccius (an ancient name meaning sea pike) and procuctus (drawn out). Alternate Names: Cod, hake, silver hake, Pacific whiting, haddock, whitefish, popeye and oatmeal fish. Early-day names included mellusa and meluzette. In Mexico…

Pacific Sardine

Herring: Family Clupeidae Species: Sardinops sagax (Jenyns, 1842); from the Latin word sardine (sardina), the Greek word ops (like), and the Latin word sagux (of quick perception, acute or alert). Alternate Names: Pilchard, ‘dines, dinies (small sardines) and dinos, firecrackers (small sardines), rhinos or trout…

Ocean Whitefish

Tilefishes: Family Malacanthidae Species: Caulolatilus princeps (Jenyns, 1840); from the Greek words caulo (stem) and latilus (probably a similar fish) and the Latin word princeps (leader). Alternate Names: Poor man’s yellowtail, whities, blanquillo, blanka. In Mexico called pez blanco, blanquillo fino or pierna. Identification: Elongate…

Northern Anchovy

Picture courtesy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Anchovies: Family Engraulididae Species: Engraulis mordax (Girard, 1854); from the Greek word engraulis (European anchovy) and the Latin word mordax (biting). Alternate Names: Anchovy, California anchovy, pinheads (small anchovies). Called anchoveta or anchoveta norteña in…

Yellowfin Goby

Gobies: Family Gobiidae Species: Acanthogobius flavimanus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1845). Alternate Names: Japanese river goby (Former USSR), Mahaze (Japan), Spotted goby (Viet Nam), Yaponskii rechnoi bychok (Former USSR). Called gobio extranjero in Mexico. Identification: Typical goby shape. Color varies, generally brown but can be light…

Chameleon Goby

Gobies: Family Gobiidae Species: Tridentiger trigonocephalus   (Gill, 1859). Alternate Names: Striped goby, trident goby and specklefaced goby, Japanese goby, striped tripletooth goby (Russian Federation), polosatyi trekhzubyi bychok (Russian Federation), shimahaze (Japan). Identification: Fat with a wide, flat head; typical goby shape. The coloring is generally…

Longjaw Goby

Gobies: Family Gobiidae Species: Gillichthys mirabilis (Cooper, 1864); from the word gillichthys (gill fish, named in honor of the 19th Century American ichthyologist Theodore Gill) and the Latin word mirabilis (wonderful). Alternate Names: Mudsucker. Called chupalodo grande or gobio in Mexico. Identification: Typical goby shape…