Sea raven

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Onglets

Description

Distinguishing features

This elongated fish is stockier toward the front of its body. Its large head bears numerous bumps and bony ridges, as well as fleshy tabs extending under its lower jaw. Its reddish-brown body is marbled with darker brown and tinged with bright yellow on the belly.

Reproduction

The sea raven spawns on the bottom. The female lays approximately 15,000 eggs, but the number may vary depending on the female's size. The eggs are laid in clusters of 140 to 500 and are sometimes hidden in certain species of sponges. These fish protect and aerate their eggs.

Diet

Sea ravens eat small fish and invertebrates, including crustaceans, molluscs, sea urchins, other echinoderms and worms. They are voracious carnivores.

Predators

The enemies of this species are unknown.

Habitat

Sea ravens live in salt water, at temperatures ranging from -2 to 15°C, on rocky bottoms at depths of 30 to 100 m. They are found all along the Atlantic coast of North America.

Ecology, behaviour

These fish are camouflage artists. With their variable colouring, the shape of their fins and their fleshy protuberances, they are able to go unnoticed in their environment.

French name

Hémitriptère de l'Atlantique

Scientific name

Hemitripterus americanus

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Osteichthyes (bony fish)

Order

Scorpaeniformes

Family

Hémitriptéridés

Size

Maximum length: 64 cm

Weight

Maximum: 3.2 kg

Status

Not determined

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