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Gargoyle Fish Coelorinchus mirus McCulloch, 1926
[CAAB 37 232003]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Endemic to Australian waters; demersal on continental shelf and upper slope at 100-500 m, most common at 300-400 m off WA and 200-400m off NSW.

Size:

To 30 cm TL.

Food and feeding:

Reproduction and early life history:

Characteristics:

D II, 9-10; P 17-19; V 7; GR 7-8 total BR; PC about 40
Snout short, broad, pointed in dorsal view, tipped with small tubercle, area dorsally behind leading edge naked, anterolateral margins incompletely supported by bone; eye large, diameter much greater than snout and postorbital length; underside of snout and most of suborbital naked, lower jaw and underside of preopercle scaled posteriorly, nasal fossa and area immediately behind dorsal leading edges of snout naked. Body scales with 9-20 parallel rows of small spinules. Anus before anal-fin origin by 1 or 2 scales. Naked fossa of light organ large, extending forward from anus to between pelvic-fin bases or beyond.

Colour:

Overall pale brownish to grey dorsally, whitish below with prominent scattered peppering on underside of head and abdomen; juveniles with 10-12 dark saddle marks, lost in adults; mouth and gill cavity dark, lips and barbel pale. First dorsal fin dusky, anal fin pale anteriorly, distal margin blackish posteriorly, pelvic fin whitish with prominent black blotch in middle of fin, pectoral fin with small black spot at ventral corner.

Similar species:

Fisheries:

One of the most abundant Coelorinchus species in Australian waters and one of shallowest-living, inhabiting both outer shelf and upper slope waters; caught at night by prawn trawlers working off northern NSW.

Conservation Status:

Remarks:

Other common names:

Gargoylefish, Small-eye Rattail.

Original citation:

Coelorhynchus (Paramacrurus) mirus McCulloch, 1926, Biol. Res. Endeavour 5(4): 178, pl. 46, east of Sydney, NSW.

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.

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.