Skip to content

False Graceful Whiptail Coelorinchus smithi Gilbert & Hubbs, 1920
[CAAB 37 232114]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Tropical western Pacific, from Philippines, South China Sea, Indonesia and Australia; benthopelagic on continental slope at 400-750 m.

Size:

To 35 cm TL.

Food and feeding:

Carnivorous on cephalopod molluscs, lanternfishes (Family Myctophidae), small crustaceans and polychaete worms.

Reproduction and early life history:

Characteristics:

D II, 8-10; P 15-19; V 7; GR 7-8; BR 6; PC
Snout moderately long, more so in juveniles, sharply pointed in lateral view, tipped with a sharp, slender, diamond-shaped scute, anterolateral margin sharp, completely supported by bone. Mouth relatively broad, slightly restricted at corners, upper jaw teeth in broad uniform band, no teeth enlarged; lower jaw teeth uniformly small, in long, narrow band; chin barbel short. Underside of head uniformly covered with small, non-overlapping scales, except along narrow ventral margin of preopercle, anteriorly on lowe jaw and over gill and gular membranes; nasal fossa almost naked or with fine scales anteriorly and ventrally. Body scales large, with 3-7 divergent ridge-like rows of stout, triangular spinules, middle row strongest, with 4-6 spinules. First dorsal fin low, dorsal and pectoral fins without produced rays, outer pelvic-fin ray slightly elongate, almost reaching or scarcely extending beyond anal-fin origin. Anus slightly before anal-fin origin by 2-3 scale rows. Light organ short, externally visible as a short black fossa before anus; a narrow black midventral streak extends from before periproct to midway between pelvic-fin bases.

Colour:

Overall dark brown to swarthy in adults, more greyish in young; abdomen with bluish to violet tinge; fins, mouth, gill cavities, and branchiostegal membranes black; lips, external faces of premaxillary and maxillary white to dusky; gums pale, barbel pale to dusky.

Similar species:

Fisheries:

Conservation Status:

Remarks:

Other common names:

Original citation:

Coelorhynchus smithi Gilbert & Hubbs 1920, Bull. U.S. Natl. Mus. 100(7): 493 fig. 20, between Gillolo and Makyan Islands, Philippines.

Etymology:

References:

Iwamoto, T. 1999. Order Gadiformes. In Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem. Species identification guide for fisheries purposes. The living marine resources of the western central Pacific. Batoid fishes, chimeras and bony fishes part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae). FAO, Rome.

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.