About Phycis phycis (Linnaeus, 1766)
Phycis phycis (Linnaeus, 1766) commonly grows to 25 centimetres (9.8 in) in length, with males reaching a maximum total length of 65 centimetres (26 in). These fish have a wide mouth with thick lips, and a single barbel on the chin. They have no thorns on their fins, but their pelvic fins have elongated rays that are reduced to bifid filaments, and contain 2 soft rays. The dorsal fin is double and rounded; the first dorsal fin holds between 9 and 11 soft rays, and the second holds between 56 and 65. The caudal fin is rounded and has 27 to 29 soft rays. The vertical fins extend distally to reach the origin of the anal fin, and are dark in color, sometimes with a pale margin. The body is dark brown or gray along the back, and paler in color on the ventral side. This species occurs in the Mediterranean Sea, Portugal, the western coast of northern Africa, and the Azores. It typically inhabits hard and sandy-muddy bottoms near rock formations, at depths ranging from 100 to 650 meters.
