Hooknose (Agonus cataphractus)

Scientific name: Agonus cataphractus Linnaeus, 1758

The Hooknose (Agonus cataphractus) is a marine fish of the family Agonidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 4–8°C (39–46°F).

Hooknose care at a glance

Temperature: 4–8°C (39–46°F)

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 5 - 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-8; Anal soft rays: 5 - 7. Unpaired breast row of plates absent, but paired plate rows cover whole breast. Snout with a pair of strong spiny hooks; numerous barbels on branchiostegal membranes. Dorsal plates 31-34. Spiny and soft dorsal fins almost fused. No spines on the hind part of the head.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Agonus cataphractus
Family: Agonidae (Poachers)
Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 21.0
Common length: 14.0
Depth range: 0–270 m (0–886 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 270 m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: Northeast Atlantic: English Channel to Finmarken and Murman coasts and White Sea, also the Shetlands, the Faroes and southern and southwestern coasts of Iceland; southern part of Baltic.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: public aquariums
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.47; tm=1-4; tmax=3; Fec=2,400)