tilefish

Any of various chiefly marine fishes of the family Malacanthidae, especially Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps, a reddish-blue food fish of deep Atlantic waters, having a fleshy flap on the nape and small yellow spots on the upper sides and fins.

In 1882 vessels arriving at New York and Boston reported having sailed through miles of dead and dying tile-fish. For several years following no tile-fish were taken, and the species was supposed to have become extinct. It was not until 1892 that the United States Fish Commission steamer Grampus captured a few. Since that time more have been taken each year, and the fish appears now to have thoroughly reestablished itself and may become an important food-fish. The tile-fish reaches a le’ngth of three feet and inhabits depths of from 70 to 80 fathoms at the edge of the Gulf Stream.

A fish of the family Latilidæ, specifically Lopholatilus chamæleonticeps.

The family Latilidæ.

A large, edible, deep-water food fish (Lopholatilus chamæleonticeps) more or less thickly covered with large, round, yellow spots.

Mostly small, perciform marine fish in the family Malacanthidae; an important food fish.

important marine food fishes

yellow-spotted violet food fish of warm deep waters