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Silver Whiptail Coelorinchus argentatus Smith & Radcliffe, 1912
[CAAB 37 232021]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Tropical Indo-West Pacific, Philippines, Indonesia and Australia, questionably from South Africa; benthopelagic on continental shelf at 80-580 m.

Size:

To 37 cm TL.

Food and feeding:

Carnivorous on small crustaceans and polychaete worms.

Reproduction and early life history:

Characteristics:

D II, 8-10; P 15-18; V 7; GR (inner) 8-9; BR 6; PC about 9.
Snout moderately long with slight humplike rise in dorsal profile over nostril, anterolateral margins not fully supported by bone; upper jaw about one-third head length, extending posteriorly below hind margin of orbit. Underside of head completely naked (except for overlapping scales on snout); nasal fossa naked, naked area extending posteriorly onto suborbital shelf below anterior half of orbit. Scales on snout and interorbit thin, but densely covered with short, conical spinules. Underside of snout with tiny black punctations and small, black, hairlike papillae. Body scales thin, with short, fine, conical spinules in slightly divergent rows to somewhat quincunx pattern. Broad, median-ventral streak of a light organ extends from anus onto chest just behind isthmus.

Colour:

Silvery over sides of head, ventral half of trunk and midlaterally on tail, chest dark, belly pale; a narrow tapering dark stripe extends from below origin of second dorsal to end of tail, stripe expanded anteriorly; blotchy or spotty markings present dorsally on nape and trunk; an elongate horizontal blotch present behind occipital region in most; side of abdomen peppered with with large dots becoming sparser ventrally. Second spinous ray of first dorsal fin blackish over distal three-quarters; anal fin darkish anteriorly, otherwise light dusky to clear; pelvic fin base dark and along outer ray, pale in middle; gill membrane with finely striated or reticulated pattern, upper jaw and lips densely pigmented, barbel dark to dusky.

Similar species:

Fisheries:

Of no commercial interest, but occasionally caught by commercial trawlers working in relatively shallow waters.

Conservation Status:

Remarks:

Other common names:

Original citation:

Coelorhynchus argentatus Smith & Radcliffe 1912, Proc.U.S. Natl. Mus. 43(1924): 137, pl. 31(1), off Jolo, Philippines, 6°03 'S, 120°35 'E.

Etymology:

References:

Iwamoto, T. 1990. Family Macrouridae, pp. 90-318 In Cohen, D. M., T. Inada, T. Iwamoto & N. Scialabba (eds.) FAO Species Catalogue. Gadiform fishes of the world (order Gadiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cods, hakes, grenadiers and other gadiforms fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125, Rome: FAO Vol. 10, 442 pp.

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.