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Tubenose Poacher

Pallasina aix

Tubenose Poacher

Pallasina aix
At the Aquarium
Sandy Coast

At the Aquarium

Sandy Coast

Appearance

Tubenose poachers are long and skinny fish with bony plates. They are usually a gray or brown color with some dark spots and sometimes a yellow belly. The lower jaw protrudes much farther than the upper, and, as their name implies, the snout is tube-like. There is a single whisker on the lower jaw that points forward.

Habitat

Tubenose poachers inhabit shallow water. They are usually found around eelgrass and other vegetation, they can be found over soft or hard bottoms and also in tidepools, and are usually in waters less than 200’ depth.

Diet

Small crustaceans and worms.

Life History

Tubenose poachers spawn eggs that sit on the bottom. After spending 2-3 months as planktonic larvae, young tubenose poachers settle in shallow waters when they reach around 1 inch long. Tubenose poachers can reach a maximum length of 8 inches and live for at least 5 years.

IUCN Status

Not Evaluated

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Predators include great sculpins
Range
Eastern Pacific: Alaska to California, also occurs in Western Pacific and Arctic Ocean
On the Oregon Coast
Tubenose poachers are a species that can be seen in tidepools.
Fun Facts
A 2021 paper was released that split tubenose poachers (Pallasina barbata) into 3 different species (Our region’s tubenose poacher is now called Pallasina aix).

Citations & Other Resources

  • Bureau of Ocean Energy Management website: Alaska Arctic Marine Fish Species chapter at https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/boem-newsroom/Technical-Announcements/2016/Chapter-3g–Fourhorn-Poacher—Leatherfin-Lumpsucker.pdf
  • Love, Milton S. Certainly more than you want to know about the fishes of the Pacific Coast: a postmodern experience. Really Big Press: Santa Barbara. 2011. 649 pp. ISBN 978-0-9628725-6-3.
  • Stevenson, Duane E., James W. Orr, and Yoshiaki Kai. inchesRevision of the Tubenose Poacher Genus Pallasina Cramer (Perciformes: Cottoidei: Agonidae).inches Ichthyology & Herpetology 109.1 (2021): 165-179.
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About Oregon Coast Aquarium

Since opening in 1992, the Oregon Coast Aquarium has been a premier attraction on Oregon’s central coast and an enduring advocate for the health of our ocean. For over three decades this 501(c)3 non-profit organization has supported marine wildlife and fostered environmental stewardship through its education programs, community partnerships, and rehabilitation efforts. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the Oregon Coast Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 aquariums in the U.S., providing visitors with opportunities to connect with 15,000 animals spanning 300 different species. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is located at 2820 S.E. Ferry Slip Rd., Newport, OR. Learn more about the Oregon Coast Aquarium and its vital work at aquarium.org, 541-867-3474. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the latest updates.

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