The roosterfish, ''Nematistius pectoralis'', is a

game fish Game fish, sport fish or quarry refer to popular fish pursued by recreational anglers, and can be freshwater or saltwater fish. Game fish can be eaten after being caught, or released after capture. Some game fish are also targeted commerciall ...

found in the warmer waters of the East Pacific from

Baja California Baja California (; 'Lower California'), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California), is a state in Mexico. It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 32 federal entities of Mex ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

. It is the only species in the genus ''Nematistius'' and the family Nematistiidae. It is distinguished by its "rooster comb", seven very long spines of the

dorsal fin A dorsal fin is a fin located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates within various taxa of the animal kingdom. Many species of animals possessing dorsal fins are not particularly closely related to each other, though through conv ...

. The roosterfish has an unusual arrangement of its ears: the

swim bladder The swim bladder, gas bladder, fish maw, or air bladder is an internal gas-filled Organ (anatomy), organ that contributes to the ability of many bony fish (but not cartilaginous fish) to control their buoyancy, and thus to stay at their curren ...

penetrates the brain through the large

foramina In anatomy and osteology, a foramen (;Entry "foramen"
in

and makes contact with the

inner ear The inner ear (internal ear, auris interna) is the innermost part of the vertebrate ear. In vertebrates, the inner ear is mainly responsible for sound detection and balance. In mammals, it consists of the bony labyrinth, a hollow cavity in the ...

. It uses its swim bladder to amplify sounds. Roosterfish can reach over in length and over in weight. The weight of the average fish hooked is about . The fish is popular as a game fish, but it is not considered a good eating fish.

Catch and release Catch and release is a practice within recreational fishing where after capture, often a fast measurement and weighing of the fish is performed, followed by posed photography as proof of the catch, and then the fish are unhooked and returned ...

is strongly recommended.

References

External links

Visual Identification
Carangiformes Fish described in 1862 {{Perciformes-stub