Semaphore whiptail (Coelorinchus semaphoreus)

Scientific name: Coelorinchus semaphoreus Iwamoto & Merrett, 1997

The Semaphore whiptail (Coelorinchus semaphoreus) is a marine fish of the family Macrouridae. Native range: Western Central Pacific, New Caledonia and Queensland, Australia.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 2. Snout long, slender, 2.4-2.8 of orbit; anterolateral margin incompletely supported by bone; orbit about equal to interorbital width, much less than postorbital length; upper jaw extends to below hind margin of orbits; subopercle forms small short point posteroventrally. Light organ long, extending from anus to thorax, just behind isthmus. Anus immediately before anal fin. Underside of head completely naked; top of snout scaled except for naked strip on each side medial to anterolateral margin; nasal fossa naked; no naked areas below orbit on suborbital shelf. Body scales large, with numerous (to 14 or more) low rows of short conical spinules. First dorsal fin pale to white with prominent black midlateral blotch; body and head pale, whitish to silvery ventrally; no bold marks except blackish on chest and around light organ.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Coelorinchus semaphoreus
Family
Macrouridae (Grenadiers or rattails)
Order
Gadiformes (Cods)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
34.0
Depth range
420–445 m (1378–1460 ft)
Environment
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 420 - 445 m
Climate
Deep-water
Distribution
Western Central Pacific: New Caledonia and Queensland, Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

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