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Prowfish (Zaprora silenus) — Zaproridae

Prowfish

Zaprora silenus
Family: Zaproridae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Prowfish (Zaprora silenus) is a saltwater fish of the family Zaproridae that grows up to 88 cm.

Length
88 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–675.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The prowfish is a remarkable bottom fish from the northern Pacific. The species grows to about 88 cm and has a deep, compressed, blue-grey body with a blunt, high head studded with pores and no pelvic fins. As a bottom-dweller it lives around rocky reefs and on soft bottoms of the continental shelf to about 675 metres and feeds mainly on jellyfish and other gelatinous plankton. Juveniles sometimes shelter among the tentacles of large jellyfish. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Prowfish?

The Prowfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Prowfish live?

The Prowfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Prowfish get?

The Prowfish grows to a maximum of about 88 cm. On average the species is around 43 cm.

Is the Prowfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Prowfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Prowfish edible?

The Prowfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Boegvis verified
English name
Prowfish verified
Scientific name
Zaprora silenus
Family
Zaproridae
Other names
Prowfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
88.0 verified
Average length (cm)
42.9 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
675.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
levensduur_max_jaar
9.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

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