Longnose Batfish

The Longnose Batfish (Ogcocephalus corniger) is named for its body shape. Though all Ogcocephalus have a wide, triangularly shaped body, O. corniger has a conspicuous long upturned rostrum (snout), present in just a few species, that is the source of its common name. The pectoral fin is yellowish near the base and purplish at the tip. The dorsal coloration consists of small, round, pale spots that are evenly distributed over the body. A red-orange wash on the underside of the fish extends to include the pelvic and anal fins. The lips are bright red-orange. (Bradbury 1980; Robins and Ray 1986). The genus Ogcocephalus is confined to the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific. Ogcocephalus corniger is found in the waters of the southeastern United States and the eastern Gulf of Mexico. This species exhibits a greater known depth range than most other Ogcocephalus species, having been found from 30 to 250 meters. Size may range from 26 to 134 mm SL (standard length, i.e., excluding tail). (Bradbury 1980).

Evenly covered by closely set pale spots on a darker background. Subopercular lateral-line scales usually 5-7. Differs from pumilus in having larger body size and fleshy pads on the ventral tips of the pectoral rays (absent in pumilus) (Ref. 40824).

Found typically on sandy bottoms (Ref. 27549).

Ogcocephalus corniger, conventional image and X-ray image, showing the stomach content

Ogcocephalus corniger, the longnose batfish, is a species of batfish found at depths between 29 and 230 m (95 and 755 ft) in the Atlantic Ocean, ranging from North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas. Like other members of the family Ogcocephalidae, it has a flat triangular body with coloring varying from yellowish to purple with pale, round spots. The lips are orange-red. Projecting from its head is a characteristic structure that is shared by other anglerfish.

Western Atlantic: North Carolina and northern Gulf of Mexico in USA to southern Bahamas