Latin name

Tanakius kitaharae

Other names

Tanakius kitaharae

Identification

Body ellipsoidal, strongly compressed. The mouth is small, the upper jaw reaching the anterior margin of the pupil under the lower eye. There is a bony prominence at the symphysis of the lower jaw. Teeth short, blunt or incisor, single row. The lateral line is straight. Scales are small, cycloid on both sides of the body. Eyes covered with scales from above. Tanakius kitaharae differs from representatives of other genera of Microstomus (Microstomus, Glyptocephalus, Embassichthys) by a relatively low body (its height more than 3 times exceeds the standard length, against less than 3 times) and good development of teeth on the jaws of the ocular side of the head (their number is always much more than half of those on the blind side of the head; in others it hardly reaches half, and very rarely it is a little more). 

Features of fish fins

The last 20 rays in the dorsal and anal fins are branched.

Fish colouring

The colouration of juveniles is characterised by 3-4 dark spots along the lateral line, 5 other spots - under the dorsal fin, 4-5 - above the anal fin, about 9 spots - on the rays of the dorsal fin and about 7 - on the rays of the apal fin. This colouration disappears in adults, although spots may remain along the lateral line, but they become less distinct. On the eye side of the body, the ends of the pectoral and caudal fins darken to black. The general colouration of the eye side of the body is dark brown, blind - greyish white. There are individuals with a coloured blind side.

Distribution

Its natural habitat is the temperate waters of the western Pacific Ocean, from southern Hokkaido in Japan to Bohai Bay, the East China Sea and Taiwan. 

Habitat

It is a bottom-dwelling, saltwater fish that lives at depths of 100 to 200 metres (330 to 660 feet). 

Size

Can grow up to 30 centimetres long.

Behavior

It inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms.

Food and feeding habits

The diet consists mainly of zoobenthos organisms, including polychaetes, crabs and other benthic crustaceans.

Reproduction

Sexual maturation occurs at 20 cm in length, with mature females caught from January through March. 

Fishing

It is of no commercial importance.

Relationship with a person

Found in the Tokyo and Tsurugi fish markets.