Animalia Life

Opsanus tau
FAMILY
Batrachoididae
TAXONOMY
Gadus tau Linnaeus, 1766, Carolina, United States.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
None known.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The maximum size is 15 in (381 mm) standard length. There are three dorsal-fin spines, a body lacking scales, and a single subopercular spine. The inner surface of the pectoral fins has discrete glands between the upper rays, and the pectoral fin with an axillary pore behind it. The second dorsal fin has 23–27 soft rays, and the anal fin has 19–23 soft rays. The tongue, gill arches, roof of mouth and inner surface of the gill covers are light, not black, and the background color of the body is dark with no spots. The pectoral fin has definite cross bars.
DISTRIBUTION
Atlantic coast of the United States, from Maine to Miami, Florida.
HABITAT
Usually found over rock, sand, or mud, and oyster shell bottoms, often most abundant in estuaries.
BEHAVIOR
This species makes a grunting noise by rubbing muscles across the swim bladder. Males use a boat-whistle call to attract females to nesting sites.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds mainly on small crabs and other crustaceans.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Males establish nesting sites from April through October. Reproductive
BEHAVIOR
typical of the
FAMILY
.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Generally considered a nuisance when caught by fishers, but used as an experimental animal for studies involving insulin and diabetes, drug metabolism, hearing, dizziness, and motion sickness.

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