Darkedge Midshipman
Sapo de Luto
(Porichthys analis)

Darkedeged Midshipman, Porichthys analis: The Darkedge Midshipman is brown in color with a golden sheen. It has five to seven dark saddles on the back, and dorsal fins with six or seven dark blotches along the outer margin.

The anal and caudal fins of this fish species have dark margins.

Keys to identification are that the Darkedge Midshipman has 33 to 39 anal rays, 34 to 41 dorsal rays, 10 to 13 gill rakers on the lower arch, and four lateral lines with conspicuous light organs.

The lower lateral line has five or more pores behind the end of its light organ and the anal and dorsal fins are separate from the caudal fin.

The Darkedeged Midshipman is most easily confused with the Miminic Midshipman, Porichthys mimeticus (29 to 32 anal rays, 10 to 12 gill rakers).

The Darkedged Midshipman is found in the first 600 feet in the water column, over sandy and muddy bottoms. It reaches a length of just over 12 inches. Due to its rarity it is deemed to be of limited value.

Distribution in Mexico fishing areas

In Mexican fishing waters, it is found south of Magdalena Bay along the Pacific Coast of the Baja California peninsula, throughout the Sea of Cortez, and along the coast of the Mexican mainland south to Guatemala.

The Darkedge Midshipman is a member of the Batrachoididae Family, which includes the toadfish, midshipmen, and monkfish, which are known in Mexico as peces sapo. They are characterized by large heads with eyes on top, two or three stout dorsal spines followed by a separate second dorsal fin with a long base, and anal fins without spines.

They are bottom-dwellers found under rocks, in crevices, or buried in the sand. Eggs are attached to submerged debris. They are found in brackish coastal estuaries as well as in waters to depths of 1,000 feet. They consume crabs, echinoderms, fish, mollusks, and shrimp. The Midshipmen have four lateral lines, light-producing organs known as photophores, and anal and dorsal fins that are not continuous with the caudal fin. There are 14 global members of the Porichthys Genus, of which four are found in Mexican waters.

Darkedged Midshipman

Darkedge Midshipman, Porichthys analis: Photo courtesy of John Snow.

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Darkedge Midshipman, Porichthys analis: Provided by Mexican panguero bait salesmen during fishing at La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, January 2008. Size approximately 4 inches. Fish identification courtesy of H.J. Walker, Jr., Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, Calif. The pictured fish has 34 anal rays, 35 dorsal rays and 12 pores as counted by H.J. Walker. Description and photos courtesy of John Snow.

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Darkedge Midshipman, Porichthys analis: Caught while fishing at Puerto Penasco, June 2010. Photos courtesy of "Gregory." Species identification courtesy of John Snow.

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