Bothragonus swanii explained

Bothragonus swanii, the rockhead, deep-pitted poacher or deep-pitted sea-poacher,^[1] is a fish in the family Agonidae.^[2] It was described by Franz Steindachner in 1876, originally in the genus Hypsagonus.^[3] It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Carmel Bay, California down to depths of 18 metres. It can also inhabit the intertidal zone. Males can reach a maximum total length of 8.9 centimetres.^[2]

The species epithet "swanii" refers to James G. Swan of Port Townsend, Washington.^[2] The rockhead spawns nearshore, during the months of January–May in the California Current region.^[4] Its diet consists of benthic shrimp and crabs.^[5]

Notes and References

1. http://www.fishbase.org/comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=4163&GenusName=Bothragonus&SpeciesName=swanii&StockCode=4359 Common names for Bothragonus swanii
2. http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Bothragonus-swanii.html Bothragonus swanii
3. Steindachner, F. 1876 [ref. 4225] Ichthyologische Beiträge (V). [Subtitles i-v.]. Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe v. 74 (1. Abth.): 49-240, Pls. 1-15.
4. http://www.fishbase.org/Reproduction/SpawningList.php?ID=4163&GenusName=Bothragonus&SpeciesName=swanii&fc=283&StockCode=4359 Spawning for Bothyragonus swanii
5. http://www.fishbase.org/TrophicEco/FoodItemsList.php?vstockcode=4359&genus=Bothragonus&species=swanii Food items reported for Bothragonus swanii