Violet roughy (Optivus agastos)

Scientific name: Optivus agastos Gomon, 2004

Violet roughy (Optivus agastos)

The Violet roughy (Optivus agastos) is a marine fish of the family Trachichthyidae. Native range: Southwest Pacific, endemic to SE Australia.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 4 - 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 26. This species is characterized by the following: gill rakers 22-25 (modally 23); lateral profile of nape and head nearly straight, distinctly angled downward in front of dorsal fin; snout tip rounded, often projecting slightly in front of upper jaw; depth of head at vertical through upper end of gill opening 2.9-3.2 times in SL; snout length 1.6-2.7 times in eye diameter; inner row of teeth on premaxilla is noticeably longer than others; caudal peduncle relatively short and deep, its depth 0.9-1.3 times in length; dorsal and anal fins are relatively low, third segmented dorsal-fin ray 3.5-4.2 times in SL, first anal-fin ray 5.2-6.3 times in SL; body color greenish brown on back, silvery below; fins almost uniformly pink, though slightly dusky tips to caudal-fin lobes lasting in recently preserved large specimens.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Optivus agastos
Family
Trachichthyidae (Slimeheads)
Order
Beryciformes (Sawbellies)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
9.5
Depth range
1–146 m (3–479 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 146 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Southwest Pacific: endemic to SE 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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