Range and Identity
Lophiodes caulinaris is recorded from Baja California toward Peru, with a northern extension reported near Morro Bay, California. These range records should retain their dates and localities rather than suggesting equal abundance along every part of the Pacific coast.
Habitat and Behavior
Juveniles and adults are bottom-associated on the continental shelf and upper slope. The habitat description therefore spans more than one depth zone. A precise capture depth is useful when comparing an upper-slope specimen with one taken on the shelf.
Food and Life History
The upper reference is forty centimeters total length, with thirty centimeters as a common size. Reproduction is by egg laying in floating gelatinous rafts, and larvae are planktonic. This early-life setting differs strongly from the benthic habitat of larger fish.
Field Note
Record life stage as well as depth and location. A floating egg raft or larval record and a bottom-caught adult describe separate portions of the same documented life cycle.
All Lakes With Spottedtail Goosefish
Browse all lakes and reservoirs with confirmed Spottedtail Goosefish records in our database, listed alphabetically.
No published lakes are currently linked to this species in our confirmed records.