Cladus: Eukaryota The Twoline Eelpout, Bothrocara brunneum, is a benthic[2] species of fish of the Zoarcidae family. The species is the only fish of the eelpouts to have two lateral lines and short blunt-ended gill rakers.[3] The species is found between the Bering Sea to the shores of San Francisco,[4] and also Baja California, Mexico and Attu Island.[5] It inhabits the bottom of seas or oceans and is generally found in a depth ranging between 2,000 feet (610 m) and 6,000 feet (1,829 m).[4] It has been hypothesized from an analysis of stomach content that the species feeds mainly on bottom-dwelling creatures.[4] Etymologically, Bothrocara stands for "cavity head" and brunneum for "brown", named respectively after the appearance of the head and the tinted brown colour of the body.[6] It was named "twoline eelpout" for its unique two lateral lines. The Twoline Eelpout has been found to have two lateral lines, the only one of its family, and also has a small blunt-ended gill raker.[3] Its dorsal and anal fins are covered in a gelatinous tissue.[5] Twoline eelpouts are bathydemersal (below 650 feet),[5] and can generally be found at a depth between 2,000 feet (610 m) and 6,000 feet (1,829 m).[4] They generally average approximately 1327 eggs per batch.[7] Feeding habits It has been hypothesized that, judging by an analysis of stomach content, the species feeds primarily on bottom-dwelling creatures, habitually eating anything it comes across that has food value and that is small enough to ingest.[4] As predators, they are capable of being a specialist species.[8] References ^ Contribution from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. 1979. pp. 795. Bibliography E. Fitch, John (1968). Deep-Water Teleostean Fishes of California. University of California Press.
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