Horsehead tilefish (Branchiostegus japonicus)

Scientific name: Branchiostegus japonicus Houttuyn, 1782

The Horsehead tilefish (Branchiostegus japonicus) is a marine fish of the family Malacanthidae. Native range: Western Pacific, Central Honshu to the South China Sea. Also reported as far south as the Arafura Sea.

Biology

Found in the sublittoral zone on sandy mud bottoms. Most common of Japanese tilefishes.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Branchiostegus japonicus
Family: Malacanthidae (Tilefishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 46.0
Common length: 35.0
Depth range: 30–200 m (98–656 ft)
Environment: Marine; demersal; depth range 30 - 200 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Western Pacific: Central Honshu to the South China Sea. Also reported as far south as the Arafura Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN): Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.18-0.36; tmax=12)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026