The horsehead tilefish is a pinkish fish that lives on sandy and muddy seafloors in the western Pacific near Korea and Japan. Its steep forehead, silver triangle near each eye, and yellow stripes on the tail help identify it. It is not native to U.S. coastal waters.

Appearance

Appearance
The back is pinkish, the forehead slopes sharply, and yellow stripes cross the tail fin. The silver triangle near the eye is especially useful in photos.

Where it lives

Typical habitats
  • Sandy and muddy sea bottoms
Range
It occurs around southern Korea, Japan, and nearby western Pacific waters. It is a western Pacific seafood species rather than a native fish of U.S. coastal waters.

Behavior

Diet
In Japan’s Wakasa Bay, it mainly eats marine worms and small crustaceans near the bottom.
Activity
In Japanese waters, it makes a burrow in soft bottom and holds a small area around it.

Conservation

IUCN Red List
LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
11 sources
  1. iNaturalist taxon API
  2. 국립수산과학원 옥돔
  3. 국립해양생물자원관 옥돔
  4. 한국민족문화대백과 옥돔
  5. 京都府 丹後海のアカアマダイ
  6. 京都府 丹後の海の生き物 アカアマダイ
  7. FishBase Horsehead tilefish
  8. 국립수산과학원 옥두어
  9. JAMSTEC BISMaL アカアマダイ
  10. 국립생물자원관 한국 척추동물 목록
  11. 京都府 丹後海アカアマダイの生活
Horsehead Tilefish (Branchiostegus japonicus) — identification, habitat & look-alikes | Moeyo