Skilletfish
Gobiesox strumosus
The skilletfish is a small, frying pan-shaped fish with a broad, flat head. (Virginia Institute of Marine Science)
The skilletfish is a small, frying pan-shaped fish often found clinging to oyster shells in the middle and lower Chesapeake Bay.
Appearance:
-
Frying pan-shaped body
-
Varies in color from pale gray to dark brown with a mottled pattern
-
Large suction disk on the underside of the body, formed by modified pelvic fins
-
Broad, flat head with tiny eyes, strong teeth and fleshy lips
-
Dark band at the base of a rounded tail fin
-
Grows to about 3 inches long
Habitat:
-
Usually lives among oyster reefs, but may also be found within eelgrass beds
-
Stays in shallow waters near the shore during warmer months
-
Moves to deeper waters in winter
-
Almost always clings to rocks or shells with its suction disk
Range:
-
Common year-round throughout the lower and middle Chesapeake Bay and its rivers
-
Extends as far north as the Magothy River in Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Feeding:
-
Feeds mostly on bristle worms and small crustaceans such as amphipods and isopods
Predators:
-
Brown speckled coloring allows it to blend in with oyster shells and bottom sediments
-
Hides from predators within small crevices of oyster reefs
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
-
Spawns in April-August
-
The female lays a few hundred sticky, amber-colored eggs into an empty oyster shell
-
The male guards the eggs until they hatch
Other Facts:
-
Also called oyster clingfish because of its tendency to latch on to oyster shells
-
Gets its name from its frying pan-shaped body
-
A good aquarium fish because it will usually cling to the sides of a tank, just as it clings to shells in the Bay
-
With some luck, you can find a skilletfish hiding in an empty oyster shell in the Bay’s shallows. Skilletfish latch on to objects so tightly that they will stay stuck on a shell if you take it out of the water!
Sources and Additional Information:
