Agonus cataphractus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 5 - 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6 - 8; Anal soft rays: 5 - 7. Unpaired breast row of plates absent, but paired plate rows cover whole breast. Snout with a pair of strong spiny hooks; numerous barbels on branchiostegal membranes. Dorsal plates 31-34 (Ref. 232). Spiny and soft dorsal fins almost fused. No spines on the hind part of the head (Ref. 35388).
Common Names
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Teleostei
Order: Perciformes/Cottoidei
Family: Agonidae
Genus: Agonus
Species: Agonus cataphractus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Climate Zone
Location
Biology
Inhabits inshore waters, deeper waters in winter in Skaggerak, preferring sandy bottoms, rarely with stones. Maximum depth reported at 270 m (Ref. 28197). Temp. range: 4.0-8.0 °C. Feeds on bottom crustaceans and polychaetes. Matures after about 1 year; a few spawning in the second year (Ref. 722). The eggs are laid in seaweed (Ref. 9900). Spawns in February - April, female laying 2,500-3,000 yellow eggs with a diameter of 2 mm. Period of development is very long and 6-8 mm long pelagic larvae hatch after 10-11 months (Ref. 35388).
Habitat
demersal