About Hemitripterus americanus (Gmelin, 1789)
Hemitripterus americanus, the sea raven, shows a wide range of body coloration, from blood red and reddish purple to yellow brown. Its ventral (lower) surface is usually yellow. This fish species has large heads, a robust body shape that tapers toward the tail, and distinct fleshy folds along the head and lower jaw. The first dorsal fin has an unusual ragged layer of skin. Hemitripterus americanus also has large, fan-shaped pectoral fins, a small caudal (tail) fin, and a broad mouth lined with multiple rows of teeth. The maximum published total length for this species is 69 centimeters (24 inches), and the maximum published weight is 3.2 kilograms (7.1 pounds).
This fish is distributed along the Atlantic Coast of North America, ranging from Labrador, Canada, south to Chesapeake Bay. It is a demersal species that most often lives over rocky or hard underwater substrates, though it can be found anywhere within the water column.
