Skip to content

Toothed Whiptail Lepidorhynchus denticulatus (Richardson, 1846)
[CAAB 37 232004]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Confined to temperate southern Australia and New Zealand, although a single individual was recorded from the stomach of a squid caught off Oahu, Hawaii; benthopelagic on continental shelf and slope at 100-1000 m, although recorded as shallow as 60 m. The most common grenadier in southeastern Australian waters, found shallower than any other macrourid species. Juveniles usually in shallower waters than adults.

Size:

To 55 cm TL

Food and feeding:

Primarily carnivorous on benthopelagic fishes, cephalopods and a wide range of invertebrates including crustaceans, echinoderms, gastropod molluscs and polychaete worms; gut contents also reported to contain mesopelagic prey items.

Reproduction and early life history:

Characteristics:

D II, 10-12; P 15-18; V 9; GR 10-14; BR 6; PC 15-25.

Head narrow, fairly deep, ridges poorly developed, low, lacking heavily modified scales; snout barely protruding, eyes large, suborbital region shallow, lacking a spiny ridge; mouth large, essentially terminal, chin barbel short, fine; upper jaw teeth small, conical, in broad band, outer row enlarged and widely-spaced canines; lower jaw teeth slightly enlarged, in single row. Body scales with short, needle-like spinules in more or less parallel rows. Elongate spine fo fisst dorsal fin smooth in adults; pelvic fin well developed, distal tip of outermost ray filamentous and hairlike, just reaching anal fin origin. Anus at anal fin origin; light organ with a distinctive prominent round, lens-like structure before anus; ventral surface of head and body with an extensive network of fine parallel blackish lines or striae assocatied with light producing system.

Colour:

Silvery overall, dorsal parts of head and body greyish-green; ventral surface on abdomen and gills blackish; fins generally clear to pale dusky, pelvic fins blackish.

Similar species:

Fisheries:

Although not targeted, Lepidorhynchus is abundant and frequently caught as bycatch in commercial fisheries off Tasmania and Victoria; important as a food source for commercial species such as Blue Grenadier, and used as tuna longline bait.

Conservation Status:

Remarks:

Other common names:

Javelin Fish, Thorntooth Grenadier, Toothed Rattail, Toothed Whip-tail

Original citation:

Macrurus, vel Lepidorhynchus denticulatus Richardson, in Richardons & Gray, 1846, Zool. Voy. H.M.S. Erebus Terror 2: 53, pl. 32 (fig. 1-3), coast of South Australia.

Etymology:

References:

Iwamoto, T. 1990. Family Macrouridae, pp. 90-318 In Cohen, D. M., T. Inada, T. Iwamoto & N. Scialabba (eds.) FAO Species Catalogue. Gadiform fishes of the world (order Gadiformes). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cods, hakes, grenadiers and other gadiforms fishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopsis No. 125, Rome: FAO Vol. 10, 442 pp.

Iwamoto, T. 2005. First Hawaiian record of the grenadier Lepidorhynchus denticulatus (Macrouridae: Gadiformes: Teleostei). Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 56(2): 23-30.

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.