Velvet whalefish (Barbourisia rufa)

Scientific name: Barbourisia rufa Parr, 1945

Velvet whalefish (Barbourisia rufa)

The Velvet whalefish (Barbourisia rufa) is a marine fish of the family Barbourisiidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal soft rays: 19-22; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15 - 18. Mouth large, maxillary extending far beyond eye Lower jaw projecting beyond the upper. Teeth on both jaws broad villiform bands. Body and each fin with minute spinules, the surface velvety to the touch. Lateral line opening as distinct pores.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Barbourisia rufa
Family
Barbourisiidae (Velvet whalefishes)
Order
Cetomimiformes (Whalefishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
39.0
Depth range
120–2000 m (394–6562 ft)
Environment
Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 120 - 2000 m
Climate
Deep-water
Distribution
Throughout the world ocean in tropical and temperate latitudes. Eastern Atlantic: one specimen from off Cape Bojador south of the Canary Islands; unrecorded specimens taken between Guinea and Angola. Western Atlantic: Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Western Indian Ocean: off Madagascar. Eastern Pacific: one specimen captured off northern central California, USA. Western Pacific: Japan to New Caledonia, Australia and New Zealand.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: of no interest

Sources

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

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