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Pinocchio Whiptail Coelorinchus mycterismus McMillian & Paulin, 1993
[CAAB 37 232112]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Temperate Southwest Pacific, Australia and New Zealand; bathydemersal on continental slope at 830-1150 m.

Size:

To 49 cm TL.

Food and feeding:

Reproduction and early life history:

Characteristics:

D II, 7-9; P 16-19; V 7; GR 6-8; BR 6; PC
Snout long, slender, slightly upturned with concave dorsal profile, tipped with large, sharp, diamond-shaped terminal scute. Mouth gape restricted laterally by lip folds, upper jaw teeth in broad short band, lower jaw teeth in narrow, more elongate band; chin barbel short. Head and snout completely scaled; nasal fossa with tiny, finely spinulated scales scattered only on ventral surfaces in most specimens; underside of head completely covered with small, mostly nonimbricate scales. Body scales with 4-7 parallel to slightly divergent rows of sharp spinules, those posterior to origin of second dorsal fin with more spinule rows than those on trunk. Light organ short, without visible external fossa.

Colour:

In preservative: tawny to greyish brown; first dorsal fin dark dusky to blackish, other fins light dusky; abdomen bluish, dark colour not extending onto chest area; region surrounding anus somewhat darker than adjacent areas; mouth and gill cavities black, gums dusky to pale, upper and lower lips narrowly blackish, usually pale laterally; barbel pale, branchiostegal membrane blackish posteriorly and dorsally, but paler ventrally over gular membrane.

Similar species:

Fisheries:

Conservation Status:

Remarks:

Other common names:

Upturned Snout Rattail.

Original citation:

Coelorinchus mycterismus McMillan & Paulin 1993, Copeia 1993(3): 827, fig. 6, Challenger Plateau off NewZealand, 37°39.8-41.8'S, 169°07.1-07.6'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.

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.

Merrett, N.R. & T. Iwamoto. 2000. Pisces Gadiformes: Grenadier fishes of the New Caledonian region, southwest Pacific Ocean. Taxonomy and distribution, with ecological notes, pp. 723-781 In Crosnier, R. (ed). Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM, 21. Mem. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. 184.