Dories: Zeiformes

Physical characteristics: Red boarfish are about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail fin. The head and body are shaped like a disk or diamond and are very narrow when viewed from the front. The body, cheeks, and gill covers are coated with small, rough scales. The body is pale, silvery red with a dark red bar that starts at the dorsal (DOOR-suhl) fin, goes along the back and across the tail, and ends at the front of the anal (AY-nuhl) fin. The dorsal fin is the one along the midline of the back. The anal fin is the one along the midline of the belly. Another red bar lies above and below the eyes. The belly and lower rear part of the head are silvery white.

Scientists do not know much about the behavior and reproduction of red boarfish because these fish live too deep to be observed easily. (Illustration by John Megahan. Reproduced by permission.)

Geographic range: Red boarfish live in the western part of the Pacific Ocean.

Habitat: Red boarfish live at the bottom at depths of 330 to 3,000 feet (100 to 900 meters).

Diet: Scientists are not sure what red boarfish eat. They believe it is probably plankton and small invertebrates, or animals without backbones.

Behavior and reproduction: Scientists do not know much about the behavior and reproduction of red boarfish because these fish live too deep to be observed easily. It is known that the fish live in large groups, because many fish are caught in a single trawl haul. Red boarfish probably scatter their eggs in the open water, and the larvae probably drift in open water.

Red boarfish and people: Red boarfish are of no known importance to people.

Conservation status: Red boarfish are not threatened or endangered. ∎