Red Brotula
Brótula Roja
(Brosmophycis marginata)

Red Brotula, Brosmophycis marginata: The Red Brotula has a red-brown body that is white underneath with a pale red head and pink lips. The margins of the Red Brotula's anal and dorsal fins are red and the caudal and pectoral fins are bright red. It has a distinct caudal fin that is separated from the anal and dorsal fins.

The Red Brotula has four (two long and two short) very small tread-like pelvic fins that are found under the gill cavity (as pictured below) which are nearly joined. The Red Brotula lacks anal and dorsal spines but has a well defined lateral line that is has two parts, an arched fore lateral part that is slightly separated from a rear part that extends into the tail.

This fish species reaches a maximum length of 18 inches and is found between 10 and 850 feet deep in the water column in and around rocky reefs.

Distribution in Mexico fishing areas

The Red Brotula ranges from Alaskan waters to Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico. It feeds on polychaete worms, small crustaceans, small clams and other invertebrates. It is similar to the much smaller (maximum length of 8 inches) Purple Brotula, Oligopus diagrammus, which has continuous anal, caudal, and dorsal fins. The Red Brotula, seldom seen by humans, is not readily confused with any other species. It has never been caught via hook and line, and is of limited interest to most.

The Red Brotula is a member of the Bythitidae Family which are known in Mexican fishing areas as brótulas vivíparas. They are long slender fishes with a long dorsal fin that is normally continuous with the anal and dorsal fins. They have small eyes, no fin spines, and very small pelvic fins inserted under the eyes or the gills. They bear their young alive. The family has 96 species from 33 genera which are found in all types of marine habitats. The reef species live deep in cracks and crevices. A total of seven members of the family live in Mexican fishing waters.

Red Brotula picture 1

Red Brotula picture 2

Red Brotula, Brosmophycis marginata: Caught while fishing out of 600-foot deep water at the 9.5 mile bank off Point Loma, Calif., in April 2008, by Eddie Kisfaludy, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, Calif. Size 24 cm. Fish identification courtesy of H.J. Walker, Jr., Scripps Institute of Oceanography, La Jolla, Calif. Description and photo courtesy of John Snow.

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