Agonus cataphractus (Hooknose)
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Phylum: Chordata
Class: Osteichthyes
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Agonidae
A.cataphractus is a common inshore fish although it is rarely seen in shallow water, preferring depths below 20m. This is a bottom dwelling species that spends most of its time buried in gravel or mud. It is easily identified as it has a head that is wider than long with two prominent spines on the snout. The body of A.cataphractus is covered with armoured plates, rather than scales, and there are two barbels under the snout, a divided barbel at each corner of the mouth and several more barbels along the underside of the head on each side.
A.cataphractus feeds on crustaceans and polychaetes.
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