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Rough-head Whiptail Coelorinchus trachycarus Iwamoto, McMillan & Shcherbachev, 1999
[CAAB 37 232080]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

West Pacific, from WA to Norfolk Ridge south of New Caledonia and New Zealand; bathydemersal on continental slope at 600-1700 m, most common at 1000-1200 m in Australian waters.

Size:

To 51 cm TL

Food and feeding:

Reproduction and early life history:

Characteristics:

D II, 7-9; P 15-18; V 7; GR 8-9; PC 7-9
Snout, long, wide, rounded when viewed dorsally, tipped with sharp terminal scute, anterolateral margins incompletely supported by bone, head ridges with modified spiny, coarse scales; underside of head fully scaled, nasal fossa naked to suborbital ridge; prominent free neuromasts on head, giving a spotty appearance; mouth small, teeth small, in bands in both jaws; chin barbel small. Body scales large, with 5-13 parallel rows of relatively narrow spinules, middle row longest and highest. Anus immediately before anal-fin origin; light organ small, immmediately before anus, lacking an external fossa and not externally visible.

Colour:

Dark overall with violet to purplish tinge, especially over naked areas, fin rays blackish.

Similar species:

Fisheries:

Conservation Status:

Remarks:

Other common names:

Spottyhead, Thornyhead Grenadier

Original citation:

Coelorinchus trachycarus Iwamoto, McMillan & Shcherbachev, 1999, N.Z. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res. 33(1): 49, off Wairarapa, New Zealand, 41°23.6'S, 176°21.7'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.