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Globehead Whiptail Cetonurus globiceps (Vaillant, 1884)
[CAAB 37 232029]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Circumglobal, tropical and subtropical Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans; bathypelagic on continental slope at 740-1500 m. in Australian waters.

Size:

To 40 cm TL.

Food and feeding:

Carnivorous on small fishes, planktonic crustaceans, cephalopod molluscs and echinoderms.

Reproduction and early life history:

Characteristics:

D II, 9-10; P 15-19; V 10-11; GR 11-14; BR 7; PC 7-11

Trunk very short, head massive, globose, soft and fully scaled; snout broad, rounded. Mouth small, moderately protrusible; anterior half of both jaws have small, conical recurved teeth, posterior portions of jaws toothless; chin barbel minute. Body scales small, covered with short, conical, erect spinules, those along and before anterior part of 2nd dorsal fin enlarged; lateral line reduced to series of dots (sensory neuromasts); First dorsal-fin base short, inclined, fin well-developed with elongate finely serrated spinous second ray; second dorsal fin rudimentary, rays much shorter than corresponding anal-fin rays; pectoral and pelvic fins relatively short, only outer ray of pelvic fin slightly produced. Large naked area surrounding anus and occupying most of the space between ventral and anal fins.

Colour:

Greyish to brownish black; fins dusky to blackish; mouth and gill cavities dark.

Similar species:

Fisheries:

Of no commercial importance, but sometimes trawled in large numbers at 900-1200 m.

Conservation Status:

Remarks:

Other common names:

Bert Newton Fish, Globosehead Fish, Globehead Grenadier

Original citation:

Macrurus globiceps Vaillant, in Filhol 1884, La Nature, Paris No. 559: 183, fig. 2,  Spanish Sahara, 23°57'N, 17°12'W

Etymology:

References:

Iwamoto, T. 1999. Order Gadiformes. In Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem. Species identification guide for fisheries purposes. The living marine resources of the western central Pacific. Batoid fishes, chimeras and bony fishes part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae). FAO, Rome.

Iwamoto, T. & Williams, A. (1999). Grenadiers (Pisces, Gadiformes) from the continental slope of western and northwestern Australia. Proc. Calif: Acad. Sci. 51(3): 105-243 figs 1-58