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Leopard Whiptail Coelorinchus pardus Iwamoto & Williams, 1999
[CAAB 37 232113]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Endemic to Australian waters; benthopelagic on continental slope at 107-187 m.

Size:

To 30 cm TL.

Food and feeding:

Reproduction and early life history:

Characteristics:

D II, 7-10 (usually 8-9); P ; V 7; GR (inner) 8-9; BR 6; PC 8-11.
Snout long, attenuated, with a slender, sharp terminal scute; anterolateral margins not completely supported by bone; orbit oblong. Gill opening relatively wide, extending forward to level of angle of lower jaws. Jaw teeth small, fine, in a moderately wide band in upper jaw, a narrow band in lower jaw, no teeth enlarged; chin barbel short. Underside of head naked, nasal fossa naked. First dorsal fin relaatively short, pectoral and pelvic fins of about equal length, outer pelvic ray barely reaching anal-fin origin. Body scales thin, spinules short, fine, in close parallel rows. Light organ extending from behind isthmus to front of anus with ventral streak expanded at both ends.

Colour:

Body with conspicuous markings consisting of blotches and spots; an occasional ring on dorsum, becoming a narrow dorsal stripe to end of tail; abdomen between periproct and pelvic-fin bases lacking melanophores; first dorsal fin with black membrane between second spinous ray and first segmented; anterior end of anal fin blackish distally.

Similar species:

Fisheries:

Conservation Status:

Remarks:

Other common names:

Original citation:

Coelorinchus pardus Iwamoto & Williams 1999, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 51(3): 159, fig. 19a, Arafura Sea, NT, 9°39.3'S, 133°04.4'E.

Etymology:

References:

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.