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Falseband Whiptail Coelorinchus maurofasciatus McMillian & Paulin, 1993
[CAAB 37 232045]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Temperate Southwest Pacific, off Australia and New Zealand; benthopelagic on upper continental slope at 300-930 m, mostly at 400-700 m.

Size:

To 50 cm TL.

Food and feeding:

Reproduction and early life history:

Characteristics:

D II, 9-11; P 15-20; V 7; GR; PC 22-32 (mean 27.6)
Snout short, broad, bluntly pointed, tipped with small blunt tubercle, anterolateral margin incompletely supported by bone, area dorsally behind leading edge scaled; underside of head naked, nasal fossa partially scaled, predorsal scales not thickened and elevated; mouth small, eye large, longer than snout and postorbital length. Body scales adherent, with short, small spinules in 7-15 slightly divergent rows. Anus immediately before anal-fin origina; fossa of light organ narrow, light organ extending midway between bases of anal and pelvic fins.

Colour:

Overall greyish/pink with 9-12 dark saddle-like markings from nape to end of tail, alternate saddles paler; head darker above, underside pale; mouth and gill cavity dark, lips and barbel pale, orbit margin black posteriorly and ventrally; first dorsal fin blackish distally, pale near base; anal fin with broad, dark distal stripe extending length of fin.

Similar species:

Fisheries:

Conservation Status:

Remarks:

Other common names:

Dark Banded Rattail, Eastern Falseband Whiptail, False Banded Whiptail.

Original citation:

Coelorinchus maurofasciatus McMillan & Paulin, 1993, Copeia 1993(3): 827, fig. 5, Challenger Plateau off New Zealand 38°40.1-38.7'S, 168°52.7-53.8'E.

Etymology:

References:

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.