Skip to content

Notable Whiptail Coelorinchus innotabilis McCulloch, 1907
[CAAB 37 232014]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Southwest Pacific Ocean, Australia and New Zealand; benthopelagic on continental slope at 450-1100 m, mostly at 600-900 m.

Size:

To 35 cm TL.

Food and feeding:

Feeds on gastropod and bivalve molluscs, small crustaceans and polychaete worms.

Reproduction and early life history:

Characteristics:

D II, 8-10; P 16-19; V 7; GR 6-9; PC 7-9.
Body shallow, somewhat cylindrical, head relatively large, head ridges sharp, narrow, dorsal profile concave; snout long, slender, sharply pointed, anterolateral margin completely supported by bone, area dorsally behind leading edge translucent, naked to sparsely scaled; underside of head naked anteriorly, with some scale patches above and behind mouth; nasla fossa naked; eye moderately large, much shorter than snout, mouth small, jaw teeth small, in three or four irregular series, outermost larger. Second dorsal-fin rays relatively well developed, similar in length to opposing anal-fin rays. Body scales moderate, somewhat deciduous, with almost parallel rows of short, slender spinules size and sub-ovoid with spinules arranged in sub-parallel series from 4 to 14 (varying in number with position of scale and size of specimen). Anus before anal-fin origina by 2-3 scale rows; light organ small, not visible externally, relatively short, extending from anus to midline between pelvic-fin bases; a narrow, scaleless, blackish streak extends from anus to base of ventral fins.

Colour:

Overall uniform pale gray, with no distinctive markings; anterior portion of head translucent; mouth and gill cavity dark, orbit with black margin, lips and barbel pale; second ray fo first dorsal fin black, rest dusky.

Similar species:

Fisheries:

Minor commercial value - common in trawl catches between 600 and 1000m off Tasmania.

Conservation Status:

Remarks:

Other common names:

Innotable Whiptail, Longnose Rattail, Long-nose
Rattail, Notable Rattail.

Original citation:

Coelorhynchus innotabilis McCulloch, 1907, Rec. Aust. Mus. 6(5): 348, pl.63(2, 2a), east of Sydney, NSW.

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.

Iwamoto, T. & Graham, K.J. 2001. Grenadiers (Families Bathygadidae and Macrouridae, Gadiformes, Pisces) of New South Wales, Australia. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 52(21): 407-509, figs. 1-114.

McCann, C. & McKnight, D.G. 1980. The marine fauna of New Zealand: macrourid fishes.(Pisces : Gadida). Mem. N.Z. Oceanogr. Inst. 61: 1-91, figs. 1-69 [53, figs. 36-38].