great northern great northern golden tile largest species family grows average length inches great northern slow growing long lived species stages life hatching eggs larvae found grow juveniles individuals seek shelter finding making adults continue expand sediment life diet larvae unknown presumed consist juveniles adults feed benthic invertebrates crustaceans fish reaching sexual maturity years age females lay eggs mating season male female laying average million eggs great northern subject regulation prevent regulations include catch limits gear restrictions prevent damage species habitat population result regulations seen population led increase catch limit southern atlantic taxonomy naming species discovered caught chance working coast massachusetts species named seminal work treatise world sample collected miles south east genus family commonly known order gained moniker great northern size discovery relatively high latitudes member cooking species generally referred golden tile large yellow spots blue green lighter yellow pink sides species distinguished members large family prominent crest head characteristics great northern largest species family male specimens grow centimetres fork length females centimetres years life grow rate typically rate growth grow reach sexual maturity centimetres length studies shown life fish survive adulthood range years fish blue green color yellow gold spots belly white head color changes light blue pinkish mix spawning season specimens tone blue eyes pectoral fins light tone margin anal fin blue color lengths age suggest males grow faster females observed ages showed females live longer largest male specimen long approximately years old largest female specimen years old reached total length oldest recorded date year old female specimen reached lengths oldest recorded male specimen years study shows female specimens smaller males lifespan longer males behavior great northern unique behavior habitat preference addition unique habitat choice golden display sexually growth males growing larger sizes dominant female counterparts great northern migratory fish stays local area fits needs year round seasonal migration occur changes water temperatures winter spring theory definitive evidence competing theory suggests instead reduce activity times cold temperatures life cycle great northern begins egg non eggs artificially kept environment hatch hours hatching larvae inches length larvae found july september transitional phase larvae juveniles unknown juveniles find place shelter inhabit grow size sexually active adults spawn mating season species construction expansion subject ongoing research better understand behavior species unknown begins construction expands existing presumed lengthened widened continues grow age typically found sharing exhibited male female pairs tend habitat relative proximity species form schools grouping dense square kilometer southern coast square kilometer reported inhabited areas gulf_of_mexico square kilometer near provide home different species live area crustaceans predation predators poorly understood juveniles preyed prey adult sharks presumed predators evidence free swimming attacked sharks sharks listed predator studies 1980s concluded function predator avoidance disputed chased try swim predators entering seek shelter diet diet larvae unknown believed juvenile adults preference small benthic invertebrates staple crabs great northern consume squid atlantic herring human trash eaten including potato meat bones noted eat display characteristics reproduction fish spawn early spring late fall march november peak spawning occurs september mid-atlantic bight regions differences temperatures affect breeding time waters south spawning season occurs april june males grow faster reach larger size females fishing pressure cause males spawn smaller sizes younger age spawning behavior species unknown presumed female choosing male pair bonding exhibited assumed behavior serves eggs season estimated females spawn approximately days total times season depending size average female lay million eggs spawning season average female laying million eggs response fishing age sexual maturity dramatically affected median age sexual maturity males declined years years resulted males sexually mature females median age sexual maturity males risen years females species exhibit low sexually mature instead increasing age sexual maturity varied lesser extent male population years small percentage golden known having opposite non functional sex tissues male specimens cavity came tissue sperm study found gulf_of_mexico exhibited higher rate characteristics populations distribution habitat species abundant united_states territorial waters atlantic ocean extending north bank moving east coast united_states gulf_of_mexico continental shelf great northern reported abundant feet feet deep report differs stating species live ocean sediment feet feet deep temperature ranges great northern known dig occupy outer continental shelf flanks submarine clay substrate long life slow growth complex breeding system habitat vulnerable exploitation susceptible mass mortality events cold water intrusion fishing abundance strongly presence clay substrate soft clay enables fish create simply digging away clay substrate documented minimum temperature threshold golden temperature observations measurements obtained observations temperature plots indicate norm area florida gulf_of_mexico population conservation status decline age size sexual maturity great northern population occurring continental shelf mid atlantic bight smaller sizes younger ages maturity observed compared survey data 1980s recorded measurements showed larger population recent estimates age size maturity southern waters smaller previously reported late 1980s juvenile seen population surveys southern waters atlantic_ocean gulf_of_mexico declines population negatively affect organisms surrounding environment fact underneath continental shelf disappear putting end relationship organisms use tunnels shelter fishing regulations include catch limits gear restrictions prevent damage species habitat population different gear restrictions commercial recreational regulations imposed reduce harvesting response catch limit later increased october response increased population limits atlantic waters species measured weight currently pounds pounds hook line fishing
Great northern tilefish