Skilfish

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Skilfish
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Scorpaeniformes
Family:	Anoplopomatidae
Genus:	Erilepis T. N. Gill, 1894
Species:	E. zonifer
Binomial name
Erilepis zonifer (Lockington, 1880)
Synonyms[1]
Myriolepis zonifer Lockington, 1880 Ebisus sagamius Jordan & Snyder, 1901

The skilfish (Erilepis zonifer) is a species of ray-finned fish, one of two species belonging to the family Anoplopomatidae and the only species in the genus Erilepis. It is also known as black cod, though they have no relation to cod, family Gadidae, and sable fish or sablefish, which is a name commonly used for other species in the family Anoplopomatidae. Found on deep rocky bottoms in the North Pacific at depths of up to 440 metres, they can reach up to 1.83 metres in length and weigh up to 91 kilograms. Young fish display striking white blotches on their body, however their colour changes to dark grey with maturity, and the bright markings become duller and less visible as they grow, similar to the Tiger shark's stripes.