Scientific Name
Hymenocephalus aterrimus

Common Name
Blackest whiptail

Biology
Body deep and dark, large, cavernous head. Small eyes and broad interorbital space. Snout is high, thin, membranous, median protuberance. Fin rays are weak. Small, depressible teeth present in narrow bands on both jaws. Body black. Trunk and tail blackish brown (Ref. 37108).

Classification

Classified By

Gilbert, 1905

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Cods (Gadiformes)

Family

Grenadiers or rattails (Macrouridae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Central Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Central Pacific: Hawaiian Islands. Northwest Atlantic.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

340 m

Depth To - meters

1348 m

Zone

bathyalpelagic

Environment

Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 340 - 1348 m (Ref. 58302)

Trophic Level

3.35 s.e. 0.37 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

20.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (28 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated