Category Archives: Class Elasmobranchia

Hydrolagus colliei: The spotted ratfish– The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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A spotted ratfish falling prey to a seagull. These are more frequently spotted by divers at night but so far this is the first one seen at Race Rocks

A spotted ratfish falling prey to a seagull. These are more frequently spotted by divers at night but so far this is the first one seen at Race Rocks. Photo by Ryan Murphy

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordate
Sub Phylum Vertebrata
Class Condrichthyes
Order Chimaeriformes
Family Chimaeridae
Genus Hydrolagus
Species colliei
Common Name: Spotted ratfish

 

Return to the species index of the Race Rocks Taxonomy.

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students, faculty, staff and volunteers of
Lester B. Pearson College
March 2011
Ryan Murphy

Raja rhina: Longnose Skate–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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skate2

Part of the dorsal side.. the skate had been partially eaten, perhaps by a seaion.

skate1

In the summer of 2006, this skate washed up near the jetty at Race Rocks. This is the ventral side with the mouth showing at the left side.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Elasmobranchii
Order Rajiformes
Family
 Rajidae
Genus Raja
Species rhina
Common Name: Longnose skate

Return to the Race Rocks Taxonomy and Image Gallery

This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students , faculty , staff and volunteers of Lester B. Pearson College,—- 2006 —G. Fletcher

 

Squalus acanthias: The Spiny Dogfish–The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Dogfish are not usually seen by divers but they occur in the waters around Race Rocks. They are often caught by fishermen and released . The captured one above is the first one recorded for the reserve.gullshark1
In June of 2007 this set of photos was taken by PB of a seagull eating a live baby dogfish. The whole shark was eventually swallowed.

Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Elasmobranchii
Order Squaliformes
Family
 Squalidae
Genus Squalus
Species acanthias
Common Name: Spiny Dogfish
This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students, Volunteers and staff of
Lester B. Pearson College,  2006  Pam Birley

 

Ophiodon elongatus: Ling Cod-The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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LIFE HISTORY:

Spawning takes place from December to March .Females deposit their eggs in a mass under the rocks in shallow water .The eggs vary around 3.5 millimeters in diameter when water hardened and have a tough membranous shell.The newly hatched young are 7 to 10 millimeters long and have blue eyes.The yolk sac is absorbed in about 10 days .After a few weeks growth, the young fish are attracted to lights at night .Females reach 1 meter at 10 to 14 years .Male seldom exceed 1 meter in 12 years.Newly maturing females produces (60,000)100,000 to 150,000 eggs. Large females may produce as many as 500,000 eggs.

HART, J.L, Pacific Fishes of Canada, FISHERIES RESEARCH BOARD OF CANADA. Ottawa, 1973

IMPORTANT NOTES:

-Lingcod have been over fished in British Columbia to the extent that there is now a closure on the fishing .They have been protected at Race Rocks since the fishing closure in 1990 .Divers see them frequently in water 6 to 12 meters depth.Their eggs masses appear on vertical rock walls in protected niches the adult fish patrols and defends the egg mass from predators. It will attack divers during incubation period in January and February.

 

LING COD CONSERVATION

Report from the Vancouver Aquarium on Link Cod Egg mass surveys. http://www.vanaqua.org/lingcodsurvey/

From DFO press July, 2002: “Lingcod Conservation Measures Strengthened”

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced today the expansion of management measures in the recreational fishery for the protection of lingcod in the Strait of Georgia.

A 2001 Pacific Scientific Advice Review Committee (PSARC) report on lingcod confirmed that, despite a variety of conservation measures in recent years, lingcod stocks in the Strait of Georgia remain at low levels. Fisheries and Oceans Canada had delayed opening the Strait of Georgia recreational lingcod fishery pending further analysis of the PSARC information and review of additional material received from the recreational community.

After careful consideration of all the information, the Department has decided to maintain the recreational closure for lingcod fishing in the Strait of Georgia (Areas 13 to 19, and Areas 28 and 29). If a lingcod is incidentally caught in these Areas, it should then be immediately released back into the water. The recreational lingcod fishery will continue in the North Coast and on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Harvest by First Nations for food, social and ceremonial purposes will continue in the Strait of Georgia. The impact of this fishery is small.

Since 1990, the commercial lingcod fishery in the Strait of Georgia has been closed. In the recreational fishery, management measures have included an eight month winter closure (October to May) to protect nest guarding males, a size limit restriction (to allow a fish to reproduce prior to harvest), and daily and annual catch limits. However, until a sustained improvement is noted for these stocks of concern, the Department feels that additional measures are required.

Like rockfish, lingcod are believed to be fairly sedentary, livingmost of their lives in the same rocky area or subtidal reef. However, unlike rockfish, the mortality of lingcod in catch-and-release fisheries is low (less than 10 per cent).

As an important component of both the recreational and commercial groundfish fisheries, lingcod are also expected to benefit from the inshore rockfish conservation strategy that is being developedand implemented. Inshore rockfish conservation measures, such as fishing restrictions in selected areas on the coast, will assist with protecting and rebuilding both inshore rockfish and lingcod stocks. In addition, a stock assessment framework for lingcod will be developed, which will further our understanding of lingcod and their distribution.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has made a commitment to ensure the sustainability of British Columbia’s inshore rockfish and lingcod fisheries for the benefit of Canadians today and in the future. With the cooperation of all harvesters, lingcod and inshore rockfish stocks can be protected and rebuilt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region

FISH BASE reference

Dec-2002- Fariba Hussaini, (PC yr 29)

CLASSIFICATION
Domain Eukarya
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterigii
Order Scorpaeniformes
Family Hexagrammidae
Subfamily Ophiodontinae
Genus Ophiodon
Species elongatus
Common Name: Lingcod