Tautog
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Tautog are robust, stout fish with a distinctive appearance. They have a short, rounded snout, thick rubbery lips, and a small mouth. Their powerful jaws are equipped with strong conical teeth for crushing prey like mollusks and crustaceans. The back of their mouth features flat, rounded pharyngeal teeth for additional crushing power.
Tautog have elongated bodies with broad tails and high, arched heads. Their bodies are about three times as long as they are deep. Covered in small, thin cycloid scales, their tough, rubbery skin is coated with a protective slime, ideal for navigating rocky environments.
The dorsal fin, running nearly the entire length of their back, starts over the gill openings and features stiff spines. Their anal fin is rounded, while the caudal fin is broad and slightly rounded. Tautog have a continuous lateral line and short, blunt gill rakers.
In terms of size, they can grow up to 3 feet long and weigh around 25 pounds, though the average weight is between 1 to 3 pounds.
Coloration varies with age and habitat. Adult males are mottled brown, dark olive, or black with white or gray chins, while females and juveniles display paler, mousy brown patterns. Tautog can darken with age, and males are known for their distinctive protruding foreheads.
Tautog are often confused with Cunner, another member of the wrasse family. However, Tautog are larger and have a high-arched head profile, thicker lips, and a naked, velvety cheek area. They also have minor differences in fin structure compared to Cunner.
Explore the fascinating world of Tautog with us!
Tautog are robust, stout fish with a distinctive appearance. They have a short, rounded snout, thick rubbery lips, and a small mouth. Their powerful jaws are equipped with strong conical teeth for crushing prey like mollusks and crustaceans. The back of their mouth features flat, rounded pharyngeal teeth for additional crushing power.
Tautog have elongated bodies with broad tails and high, arched heads. Their bodies are about three times as long as they are deep. Covered in small, thin cycloid scales, their tough, rubbery skin is coated with a protective slime, ideal for navigating rocky environments.
The dorsal fin, running nearly the entire length of their back, starts over the gill openings and features stiff spines. Their anal fin is rounded, while the caudal fin is broad and slightly rounded. Tautog have a continuous lateral line and short, blunt gill rakers.
In terms of size, they can grow up to 3 feet long and weigh around 25 pounds, though the average weight is between 1 to 3 pounds.
Coloration varies with age and habitat. Adult males are mottled brown, dark olive, or black with white or gray chins, while females and juveniles display paler, mousy brown patterns. Tautog can darken with age, and males are known for their distinctive protruding foreheads.
Tautog are often confused with Cunner, another member of the wrasse family. However, Tautog are larger and have a high-arched head profile, thicker lips, and a naked, velvety cheek area. They also have minor differences in fin structure compared to Cunner.
Explore the fascinating world of Tautog with us!