| Quillfish | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Ptilichthyidae |
| Genus: | Ptilichthys |
| Species: | P. goodei |
| Binomial name | |
| Ptilichthys goodei Bean, 1881 |
|
The quillfish, Ptilichthys goodei, is a species of perciform fish, the only species in the genus Ptilichthys and family Ptilichthyidae. It is an elongate eel-like fish that reaches 34 cm in length. It is native to the north Pacific Ocean, from the Bering Sea down to Oregon.[1][2]
It has been found on the surface at night, attracted by the lights of fishing boats, but little is known about its daytime habits; it is thought that it may burrow in sandy and muddy bottoms during the day, emerging at dusk to feed.
Quillfishes have been found in the stomachs of juvenile Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, and Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. The longest quillfish was nearly as long (82%) as its predator.[3]