BLUE LINE TILEFISH

Final 300dpi version

Final High Res art

Jack's Version 01_JPEG_150 dpi

Blueline tilefish, Caulolatilus microps

From South Atlantic Fishery Management Council

(http://safmc.net/FishIDandRegs/FishGallery/BluelineTilefish):

The blueline tilefish is a dull olive-gray overall and white below. The lack of fleshy

protuberance behind the head distinguishes it from the commercially important tilefish,

Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps. Elongate, continuous dorsal and anal fins more than half

the length of body, long snout, narrow gold stripe underlined in blue from snout to tip of

eye. Strong, flat spine on gill cover.

From Dooley, 1978

(http://www.researchgate.net/publication/259397741_Systematics_and_biology_of_the_tilefishe

s_(Perciformes_Branchiostegidae_and_Malacanthidae)_with_descriptions_of_two_new_species/

links/00b7d52c6f2a017462000000):

 pectoral fin usually has 18 rays

 dorsal fin usually has 7 spines and 24 to 27 rays

 anal fin has 2 spines and 22 to 24 rays

 body depth 24-31% (modally 29%) standard length (SL)

 body width 11-16% (modally 13%) SL

 caudal peduncle length 10-12% SL

 caudal peduncle depth 8-9% (modally 9%) SL

 head length (HL) 28-32% (modally 31 %) SL

 pre dorsal length:30-39% (modally 34%) SL

 head depth 77-96% HL

 snout length 37-51% (modally 48%) HL

 lengths of upper jaw 35-42% HL

 length of lower jaw 38-46% HL

 cheek depth 28-42% HL

 Dorsal fin greatest height about 7% SL

 dorsal fin base 56-66% SL

 dorsal fin origin over posterior margin of pectoral base

 Anal fin slightly lower than dorsal fin, about 6% SL

 anal fin base 33-40% SL; origin below between dorsal soft rays 7 and 8

 Pectoral fins long and pointed, reaching to anus; fin length 20-27% SL

 Pelvic fins broad, not reaching anus; length 14-18% SL; origin posterior to origin of

pectorals

 Color: body dark brown dorsally fading to light beige-white ventrally; body darkens

to a browngray after death; a hint of yellow overlies the brown body color; head with

a black predorsal ridge; snout turquoise blue with a narrow gold stripe under the eye

extending to upper lip; a broader brilliant blue band (greenish near orbit) underlines

the gold stripe and extends diagonally from orbit to upper lip; eye with gold iris,

metallic green under pupil; preoperculum bright yellow; operculum pale brown with

overlying bright yellow; spine bright blue; dorsal fin membrane light gray with an

overlying bluish-white hue; membrane has no distinct markings except some light

yellow areas which fade after death; dorsal fin upper margin with a light yellow band

(widest over soft portion); anal fin membrane pearly white and translucent with a

central bright yellow band and a bluish-white ventral margin; pectorals pale bluish-

white and gray near margins; pelvic rays clear, membrane milky white; caudal ray

bases solid yellow, posteriorly forming a twin series of parallel spots for each ray;

caudal with gray-blue dorsal and ventral margins.

From Northeast Fisheries Science Center

(http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/rcb/photogallery/groundfish.html):

From http://www.nova.edu/ocean/messing/strait-of-florida/pourtales.html:

This website has a good picture: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/photoout.asp?id=4415