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Fourhorn poacher (Hypsagonus quadricornis) — Agonidae

Fourhorn poacher

Hypsagonus quadricornis
Family: Agonidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Fourhorn poacher (Hypsagonus quadricornis) is a saltwater fish of the family Agonidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–452.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The fourhorn poacher is a small poacher from the cold waters of the northern Pacific. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a deep, angular body entirely armoured with bony plates and four knobbly projections (horns) on the head. As a slow bottom-dweller it lives on rocky and soft bottoms of the continental shelf to about 450 metres and searches for small crustaceans and worms. The fish is harmless to humans and has no commercial value. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Fourhorn poacher?

The Fourhorn poacher has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Fourhorn poacher live?

The Fourhorn poacher lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Fourhorn poacher get?

The Fourhorn poacher grows to a maximum of about 12 cm. On average the species is around 10 cm.

Is the Fourhorn poacher dangerous to humans?

No, the Fourhorn poacher is harmless to humans.

Is the Fourhorn poacher edible?

The Fourhorn poacher is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Vierhoorn-pantserponen verified
English name
Fourhorn poacher verified
Scientific name
Hypsagonus quadricornis
Family
Agonidae
Other names
Fourhorn poacher; Four-horned sea-poacher verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.0 verified
Average length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
452.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
levensduur_max_jaar
7.0 verified

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Agonidae

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