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Spiny Whiptail Coelorinchus parallelus (Günther, 1877)
[CAAB 37 232122]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Indo-West Pacific, southern Japan, East China Sea, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand; benthopelagic on continental slope at 630-990 m.

Size:

To 48 cm TL.

Food and feeding:

Carnivorous on fishes such as lanternfishes (Family Myctophidae).

Reproduction and early life history:

Characteristics:

D II, 8-9; P 17-18; V 7; GR (inner) 8; BR 6; PC
Snout long, acuminate, ending in sharp spinous scute, anterolateral margins incompletely supported by bone; mouth inferior, sides slightly restricted by lip folds; jaw teeth short, fine, none enlarged, those on upper jaw in broad short band, lower jaw teeth in long narrow bands; chin barbel small, slender. Underside of head with tiny scales armed with a single crestlike row of tall spinules; top of snout completely scaled; nasal fossa with a few minute scales. Body scales with broad-based bladelike, spinules in 6-9 parallel rows. First dorsal fin rather low, pectoral and pelvic fins short, anal fin well developed. Anus immediately before anal-fin origin. Light organ immediately before anus, scarcely developed, wihtout an external dermal window or dark median-ventral black streak.

Colour:

In alcohol; Overall medium to light brownish to greyish. Abdomen in larger specimens only faintly darker than surrounding areas, in smallest specimen, abdomen light bluish fins dusky but anal somewhat blackish distally. Mouth bluish-grey to black, lips dark or blackish. Gill cavity and peritoneum also blackish. Barbel pale; gular membranes darkish to pale. Branchiostegal membrane blackish dorsally. Orbit with narrow blackish margin dorsally. Septum separating anterior and posterior nostrils blackish.

Similar species:

Fisheries:

Of minor commercial value, occasionally taken as bycatch in commercial trawls.

Conservation Status:

Remarks:

Other common names:

Spiny Grenadier.

Original citation:

Macrurus parallelus Günther 1877, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (4)20(56):  439, off Inoshima, Japan, Challenger sta. 232, 345 fms.

Etymology:

References:

Iwamoto, T. & N.R. Merrett. (1997). Pisces Gadiformes; Taxonomy of Grenadiers of the New Caledonian region, southwest Pacific. In Crosnier, A (ed.), Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM, Volume 18.  Mém. Mus. natl. Hist. Nat. Paris  176: 473-570.

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