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Bigeye poacher (Bathyagonus pentacanthus) — Agonidae

Bigeye poacher

Bathyagonus pentacanthus
Family: Agonidae

The Bigeye poacher (Bathyagonus pentacanthus) is a saltwater fish of the family Agonidae that grows up to 23 cm.

Length
23 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
110.0–910.0 m
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
North America: Canada, USA, Alaska

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Description

The bigeye poacher is a poacher (Agonidae) from cold, deeper coastal waters of the northern Pacific. The species grows to about 13 cm and has a slender body entirely armoured with bony plates, a pointed head and conspicuously large eyes. As a sluggish bottom-dweller it crawls over sand and mud bottoms and picks small crustaceans and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bigeye poacher?

The Bigeye poacher has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Bigeye poacher live?

The Bigeye poacher lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. North America: Canada, USA, Alaska

How big does the Bigeye poacher get?

The Bigeye poacher grows to a maximum of about 23 cm.

Is the Bigeye poacher dangerous to humans?

No, the Bigeye poacher is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Bigeye poacher (Bathyagonus pentacanthus) — Agonidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Alex Bairstow, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bigeye poacher (Bathyagonus pentacanthus) — Agonidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) skunktefied, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Bigeye poacher (Bathyagonus pentacanthus) — Agonidae — 4
The University of British Columbia (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — BBM
Bigeye poacher (Bathyagonus pentacanthus) — Agonidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) daoyang71, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Bigeye poacher sourced
Scientific name
Bathyagonus pentacanthus
Family
Agonidae
Other names
Bigeye poacher; Bigeye starsnout; Bigeye starsnout poacher verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
23.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Straight inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
110.0 verified
Max depth (m)
910.0 verified
Natural range
North America: Canada, USA, Alaska sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bottom fishing with natural bait (worm, shrimp or fish) on or just above the seabed. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Bathyagonus

More from the family Agonidae

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