Tilefish, Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps, habitat, behavior and community structure in Mid-Atlantic and southern New England waters

We made forty-one submersible dives along the outer continental shelf in the Mid-Atlantic-southern New England region to study tilefish distribution, abundance, habitat and behavior, and the structure of the community associated with tilefish habitats. Tilefish are shelter seeking and inhabit three more or less distinct habitats: (I) horizontal excavations in clay outcrops along the walls of submarine canyons (pueblo habitats); (2) scour depressions under rocks and boulders and; (3) the primary habitat, funnel-shaped vertical burrows in horizontal clay substrates.