Becker's Scabbardfish, Aphanopus beckeri Parin 1994
Becker's Scabbardfish is endemic to Western Australian waters. Little else is known about its biology.
Becker's Scabbardfish, Aphanopus beckeri Parin 1994
More Info
Depth |
850 m |
Distribution |
Endemic to the waters of Western Australia. Benthopelagic. the type specimens were collected from a depth of 850 m. Juveniles are mesopelagic. |
Features |
D XLII-XLIII, 54-56; A II, 44-45. Distance from the tip of the snout to the anus 1.75-1.8 times into standard length. Head profile smooth, sagittal crest absent. Eye diameter 5.25-6.15 into head length. Fangs at front of both jaws. Vomerine teeth absent, a few uniserial teeth on palatine. First gill arch has spinescent gill rakers. Doral fin divided by deep notch. Pelvic absent in adults, present as small spine in juveniles. |
Size |
Reaches 77 cm. |
Colour |
Overall coppery black with an iridescent tint. |
Feeding |
Feeds on small fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans. |
Fisheries |
No specific fishery. |
Species Citation |
Aphanopus beckeri Parin 1994, Voprosy Ikhtiologii 34(6):741, Southeastern Indian Ocean, Western Australia, 28°04'S, 112°43'E, depth 853 metres. |
Author |
Fishes of Australia |
Becker's Scabbardfish, Aphanopus beckeri Parin 1994
References
Hoese, D.F., D.J. Bray, J.R. Paxton, & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. in Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
Carpenter, K.E.; Niem, V.H. (eds). FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 6. Bony fishes part 4 (Labridae to Latimeriidae), estuarine crocodiles, sea turtles, sea snakes and marine mammals. Rome, FAO. 2001. pp. 3381-4218.
Nakamura, I. and N. V. Parin. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 15. Snake mackerels and cutlassfishes of the world (Families Gempylidae and Trichiuridae). An annotated and illustrated catalogue of the snake mackerels, snoeks, escolars, gemfishes, sackfishes, domine, oilfish,cutlassfishes, scabbardfishes, hairtails, and frostfishes known to date. FAO Fisheries Synopis. No. 125, Vol. 15. 1993. 136 p., 200 figs.