Latin name

Leptagonus decagonus

Other name

Leptagonus decagonus

Identification

This species is the only known member of its genus. The body of the Atlantic poacher is slightly flattened. The snout ends in two rostral plates with serrated edges. Behind each plate is a large spike. The mouth is lower with five pairs of antennae. Bony plates cover the entire thorax of the fish.

Features of fish fins

The two short dorsal fins of these fish are separated by a wide gap. In sexually mature individuals, the pectoral fins of females are significantly longer than those of males, in which they are far from reaching the beginning of the anal fin, while in females they reach its first ray.

Fish colouring

Body of the Atlantic poacher is grayish brown with dark spots or stripes. Fin with dark spots.

Distribution

These fish are distributed from the Arctic to the Northwest Atlantic and Northwest Pacific: Grand Bank and Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada, in the western Atlantic. East Atlantic: from the coasts of Svalbard and Finnmark in Norway eastward to the White, Barents and Kara Seas; also Iceland and Greenland. Also the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea.

Habitat

Polar marine benthic species. It inhabits depths from 0 to 930 meters (0 to 3051 feet). Found only on muddy or muddy-sandy substrates, often with stones.

Size

This species reaches a length of 21 centimeters (8.3 inches).

Behavior

This species tolerates large temperature fluctuations, occurring both at positive and negative temperatures (from -1.7° to +4.4°), but more often at positive temperatures close to 0°. Salinities at the sites are usually high, not less than 34.5‰.

Food and feeding habits

The Atlantic poacher feeds on pelagic and benthic crustaceans and polychaetes.

Reproduction

Spawning of the Atlantic poacher occurs in late June, July. Fecundity is 600 eggs, egg diameter 2 mm.

Fishing

This species is not commercially important.

Relationship with a person

Harmless.