Development of larval and early juvenile penpoint gunnel (Apodichthys flavidus) (family: Pholidae)

• Main Authors: De Forest, Lisa G., Busby, Morgan S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2006
• Subjects: Biology; Ecology; Fisheries; Gulf of Alaska; Gunnel; Alaska; Copepods
• Online Access: http://aquaticcommons.org/8985/; http://fishbull.noaa.gov/1043/deforest.pdf; http://aquaticcommons.org/8985/1/deforest.pdf

The penpoint gunnel (Apodichthys flavidus) is a member of the perciform family Pholidae. Pholids, commonly referred to as gunnels, are eel-like fishes that inhabit the rocky intertidal and subtidal regions of the northern oceans and are often associated with macroalgae, such as Fucus spp. or kelp (Watson, 1996). Gunnels are ecologically important forage fishes that form part of the diet of birds and commercially important groundfish species (Hobson and Sealy, 1985; NMFS1; Golet et al., 2000). The diet of A. flavidus and other pholids comprises primarily harpactacoid copepods, gammarid amphipods, isopods, and other crustaceans (Cross, 1981). Apodichthys flavidus ranges along the west coast of North America from southern California to the Gulf of Alaska (Mecklenburg et al., 2002). Adult A. flavidus are distinguished from other pholids by their total vertebral counts, the presence of a thick and grooved first anal spine, a preanal length that is approximately 60% standard length (SL), and a dark green to light olive coloration (Yatsu, 1981). It is one of the largest pholids (up to 46 cm) and is important in the live fish trade for both home and public aquaria (Froese and Pauly2).