Ronquil
Encyclopedia
Ronquils are perciform marine fish
of the small family Bathymasteridae. Found only in Arctic
and North Pacific
waters, the ronquil family contains just seven species
in three genera
. The larger species are important to commercial fisheries
as food fish. Ronquils are most closely related to the eelpout
s and prowfish
.
The name ronquil is said to derive from the Spanish
ronquillo meaning "slightly hoarse". The family name Bathymasteridae can be translated from the Greek
to mean "deep searcher".
The lateral line
runs high along the flanks of the ronquil, ending with the dorsal fin. The fish have palatine teeth; that is, teeth located on the palate or roof of the mouth. The largest of the seven species is the searcher
(Bathymaster signatus) at up to 30.5 centimetres in length.
Marked sexual dimorphism
is observed among ronquils. For example, male northern ronquil (Ronquilus jordani) have orange backs with iridescent blue anal fins bordered in black, while the females have olive backs and paler blue anal fins bordered in brown.
s south to Hokkaidō
and Monterey, California
, ronquils are benthic animals spending most of their time on or near the bottom. Ronquils may be found on sandy or rocky substrates, usually no deeper than 275 metres (although searchers have been recorded to 825 metres); some may be found in tide pool
s. When threatened, ronquils will choose to retreat into the nearest hiding place, such as a hole or crevice.
Ronquils feed primarily on small benthic crustacean
s and mollusks. Large halibut
and flounder
s are among the most significant predators of ronquils. Although considered fairly common, ronquils are rarely observed; this is likely owing to their secretive nature.
Few specifics are recorded regarding ronquil spawning, but the males are known to guard the brood.
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
of the small family Bathymasteridae. Found only in Arctic
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
and North Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
waters, the ronquil family contains just seven species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in three genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
. The larger species are important to commercial fisheries
Fishery
Generally, a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is determined by some authority to be a fishery. According to the FAO, a fishery is typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats,...
as food fish. Ronquils are most closely related to the eelpout
Eelpout
The eelpouts are the ray-finned fish family Zoarcidae. As the common name suggests, they are somewhat eel-like in appearance, with elongate bodies, and the dorsal and anal fins continuous with the caudal fin. All of the approximately 220 species are marine, mostly bottom-dwelling, some at great...
s and prowfish
Prowfish
Prowfish are subtropical perciform marine fish found in the North Pacific. They are the only member of their family, Zaproridae...
.
The name ronquil is said to derive from the Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
ronquillo meaning "slightly hoarse". The family name Bathymasteridae can be translated from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
to mean "deep searcher".
Physical description
With predominantly drab colours in shades of orange and olive, greatly elongate bodies and large rounded heads, ronquils could easily be mistaken for blennies. Their eyes and terminal mouths are large, with a single long, continuous dorsal fin which begins just behind the head; the anal fin is similarly extensive, and both it and the dorsal fin may either have 1-2 spines, or none at all. The pectoral fins are also quite large, and like the much smaller tail fin, rounded. The reduced pelvic fins are located in a thoracic position, just behind the throat.The lateral line
Lateral line
The lateral line is a sense organ in aquatic organisms , used to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water. Lateral lines are usually visible as faint lines running lengthwise down each side, from the vicinity of the gill covers to the base of the tail...
runs high along the flanks of the ronquil, ending with the dorsal fin. The fish have palatine teeth; that is, teeth located on the palate or roof of the mouth. The largest of the seven species is the searcher
Bathymaster signatus
The searcher, Bathymaster signatus, is a fish native to the Northern Pacific Ocean. Its range includes the East Siberian Sea to eastern Kamchatka and the Komandorski Islands, Russia to the state of Washington, USA including the Sea of Okhotsk. It is found off shore to depths of about 300 meters,...
(Bathymaster signatus) at up to 30.5 centimetres in length.
Marked sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
is observed among ronquils. For example, male northern ronquil (Ronquilus jordani) have orange backs with iridescent blue anal fins bordered in black, while the females have olive backs and paler blue anal fins bordered in brown.
Habitat and behaviour
Inhabiting cold waters from the Siberian and Bering SeaBering Sea
The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
s south to Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
and Monterey, California
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
, ronquils are benthic animals spending most of their time on or near the bottom. Ronquils may be found on sandy or rocky substrates, usually no deeper than 275 metres (although searchers have been recorded to 825 metres); some may be found in tide pool
Tide pool
Tide pools are rocky pools by oceans that are filled with seawater. Many of these pools exist as separate entities only at low tide.Tide pools are habitats of uniquely adaptable animals that have engaged the special attention of naturalists and marine biologists, as well as philosophical...
s. When threatened, ronquils will choose to retreat into the nearest hiding place, such as a hole or crevice.
Ronquils feed primarily on small benthic crustacean
Crustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
s and mollusks. Large halibut
Halibut
Halibut is a flatfish, genus Hippoglossus, from the family of the right-eye flounders . Other flatfish are also called halibut. The name is derived from haly and butt , for its popularity on Catholic holy days...
and flounder
Flounder
The flounder is an ocean-dwelling flatfish species that is found in coastal lagoons and estuaries of the Northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.-Taxonomy:There are a number of geographical and taxonomical species to which flounder belong.*Western Atlantic...
s are among the most significant predators of ronquils. Although considered fairly common, ronquils are rarely observed; this is likely owing to their secretive nature.
Few specifics are recorded regarding ronquil spawning, but the males are known to guard the brood.
Species
- Genus: Bathymaster
- Bathymaster caeruleofasciatus
- Bathymaster derjugini
- Bathymaster leurolepis
- Bathymaster signatusBathymaster signatusThe searcher, Bathymaster signatus, is a fish native to the Northern Pacific Ocean. Its range includes the East Siberian Sea to eastern Kamchatka and the Komandorski Islands, Russia to the state of Washington, USA including the Sea of Okhotsk. It is found off shore to depths of about 300 meters,...
- Genus: Rathbunella
- Rathbunella alleni
- Rathbunella hypoplectaStripedfin ronquilThe stripedfin ronquil is a fish native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. Its range is from San Francisco, California to northern Baja California, Mexico. It can reach a total length of 16 cm. , and is elongated with a characteristic black and white pattern along the body. It inhabits rocky and sandy...
- Genus: Ronquilus
- Ronquilus jordani