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False Duckbill Whiptail Coelorinchus shcherbachevi Iwamoto & Merrett, 1997
[CAAB 37 232124]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Southwest Pacific Ocean, from south of New Caledonia on the Loyalty Ridge and off Australia; bathydemersal on continental slope at 797-835 m.

Size:

To more than 46cm TL.

Food and feeding:

Reproduction and early life history:

Characteristics:

D II, 9-10; P 16-18; V 7; GR (inner) 8-9; BR 6; PC
Head large, stout; snout sharply pointed, stoutly reinforced by scute like scales, anterolateral margins completely supported by bone, tipped with blunt terminal scute; orbits large; mouth inferior, gape wide, scarcely restricted by lip folds; teeth in cardiform bands in both jaws, upper jaw with broad, band in lower jaw narrower, no teeth enlarged short, fine. Scales coarse spiny overall, head ridges stoutly reinforced by coarse, heavy, modified scales; top of snout completely scaled; scales lateral to median nasal ridge large with 4 to 7 narrowly crestlike divergent rows; underside of head almost completely naked, covered with somewhat scraggly appearing, dark, hairlike filaments and blackish, flaplike papillae of sensory lateralis system; two patches of small, non-imbricate scales on underside of head. Body scales with strongly imbricate, relatively broad-based spinules. First dorsal about half head length in height; pectoral and pelvic fins rather short, tips of not reaching anal-fin base; anal fin well developed.Anus slightly removed from anal fin. Dermal window of light organ prominent, immediately anterior to periproct, length about 1/3 orbit diameter.

Colour:

In preservative - light brownish to swarthy overall, slightly paler ventrally and over sides of head, opercular region dark; gums and lower lips pale, upper lips pale to dusky; barbel lightly dusky; uppermost margins of branchiostegal membrane dark, gill and gular membranes externally pale; gill cavity blackish except narrow outer margin; abdomen bluish, chest area light brownish-grey; dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins blackish; anal fin dusky, blackish posteriorly.

Similar species:

Fisheries:

Conservation Status:

Remarks:

Other common names:

Original citation:

Coelorinchus shcherbachevi Iwamoto & Merrett 1997, Mém. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. Paris 176: 507, figs. 13b, Loyalty Ridge, Seamount K, Southwest  Pacific, 24°44.55'S, 170°07.00'E.

Etymology:

References:

Iwamoto, T. & Merrett, N. 1997. Pisces Gadiformes; Taxonomy of grenadiers of the New Caledonian regions, southwest Pacific. Pp.473-570 in Crosnier, A.(ed.) Résultats des Campagnes MUSORSTOM. Mém. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. Paris 176: 1-570.