Podothecus accipenserinus (Tilesius, 1813)
Sturgeon poacher
Podothecus accipenserinus
photo by Gotshall, D.W.

Family:  Agonidae (Poachers), subfamily: Agoninae
Max. size:  30.5 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 2 - 710 m
Distribution:  North Pacific: western Bering Sea south of Cape Navarin to Commander Islands, and Pacific Ocean to Sea of Okhotsk off southwestern Kamchatka and northern Kuril Islands; eastern Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands from Attu Island to northern California at Point Reyes.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-9; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 6-9; Vertebrae: 39-42. Dorsal fins well forward and moderately separated; pectorals expanded, bottom 4 rays emarginate; pelvic fins reduced, in males length about equal to snout, in females half as long (Ref. 6885). Light grayish brown on dorsal surface, light yellow to orange on ventral surface; orange spot under each eye; dark saddle-like markings across back and sides; bright yellow on cirri; dusky on fins, dark blotch on posterior tip of anal fin in older individuals (Ref. 6885).
Biology:  Common on soft bottoms (Ref. 2850). Feeds on worms, crustaceans, and small fishes (Ref. 4925).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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