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Project Noah Nature School
Lophius litulon
This fish has a mouth full of some unknown pollutent. It was caught off the coast of Vandenberg AFB, CA.
That's a Cabezon. The color has nothing to do with pollution.
They can be brown/tan, blue/brown and green/brown.
Sorry I can't agree with Lophius litulon. Fins seem wrong... no frilly outgrowths around the mouth... http://www.fishbase.org/Photos/PicturesS...
Interesting spotting! This and your other So Cal spottings would be great additions to the Southern California Wildlife mission: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/7964...
Got it! You're both right; the AMERICAN Monkfish - Lophius piscatorius is indeed in the Atlantic. But it IS a monkfish---- Lophius litulon --- the Pacific Monkfish! Found in the Pacific northwest. Flesh mostly toxic , according to what I have read- only a small portion on the fish is safe .
Matthijs: Thanks for the suggestion but this guy was caught of the California Central Coast and I believe the Lophius is found in the Atlantic ocean. I could be wrong of course.
Spotted on Nov 13, 2012
Submitted on Dec 28, 2012
