Pacific grenadier (Coryphaenoides acrolepis)

Scientific name: Coryphaenoides acrolepis Bean, 1884

The Pacific grenadier (Coryphaenoides acrolepis) is a marine fish of the family Macrouridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 1–4°C (34–39°F). Native range: North Pacific, northern Japan to Okhotsk and Bering seas, south along North American coasts to northern Mexico.

Pacific grenadier care at a glance

Temperature: 1–4°C (34–39°F)

Biology

A benthopelagic mid-slope species, that appears to wander off slope bottoms into midwater. Adults feed on small fish, euphausiids, prawns, amphipods and cephalopods. Oviparous, with planktonic larvae.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Coryphaenoides acrolepis
Family: Macrouridae (Grenadiers or rattails)
Order: Gadiformes (Cods)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 104
Common length: 46.9
Depth range: 300–3700 m (984–12139 ft)
Environment: Marine; bathydemersal; non-migratory; depth range 300 - 3700 m, usually 900 - 1300 m
Climate: Deep-water
Distribution: North Pacific: northern Japan to Okhotsk and Bering seas, south along North American coasts to northern Mexico.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial
Resilience: Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (K=0.02-0.04; tmax=73)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026