Capros aper (Linnaeus, 1758)
Boarfish
Merjaščevka
Capros aper
photo by Patzner, R.

Family:  Caproidae (Boarfishes)
Max. size:  30 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 40 - 700 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: western Norway, Skagerrak, Shetlands and western Scotland to Senegal. Also in the Mediterranean (mainly western part).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 23-25; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 22-24. Eye large; snout as long as eye or longer. Mouth very protractile, forming a short tube when protruded. Third dorsal and anal spines only a little longer and stronger than the others. Body depth more than one and a half times in standard length. Vertebrae 21-23.
Biology:  Depth range from 40-600 m (Ref. 35388) and from 288-700 m in the eastern Ionian Sea (Ref. 56504). Gregarious. Form schools. Found over rock or coral, but also trawled over sandy ground. Feed on crustaceans or worms, mollusks (Ref. 4952). Males are smaller than females (Ref. 5377).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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