Capricorn Scabbardfish, Aphanopus capricornis Parin 1994

Other Names: Capricorn Escabbardfish

Capricorn Scabbardfish, Aphanopus capricornis. Source: Ken J. Graham / NSW Fisheries. License: CC By Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

Summary:

Little is known about the biology of the Capricorn Scabbardfish.

Cite this page as:

Fishes of Australia, Aphanopus capricornis in Fishes of Australia, accessed 20 Apr 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/2556

Capricorn Scabbardfish, Aphanopus capricornis Parin 1994

More Info

Depth	978–1024 m
Distribution	Distributed in southern Oceania, exact range uncertain. In Australian waters, occurs off the QLD and NSW coasts. Juveniles mesopelagic.
Features	D XLIV-XLVI, 54-59; A II, 46-49. Distance from the tip of the snout to the anus, 1.7-1.8 times into standard length. Head profile smooth, sagittal crest absent. Eye diameter 4.9-5.7 into head length. Fangs at front of jaws. Vomerine teeth absent, a few uniserial teeth on palatine. First gill arch has spinescent gill rakers. Dorsal fin divided by deep notch. Pelvic fins absent in adults, present as small spine in juveniles.
Size	Reaches about 78 cm.
Colour	Coppery black.
Feeding	Feeds on small fishes, cephalopods and crustaceans.
Fisheries	No specific fishery.
Conservation	None.
Etymology	The specific name is from the Latin, capricornis, in reference to the distribution of the species.
Species Citation	*Aphanopus* *capricornis* Parin 1994, Voprosy Ikhtiologii 34(6): 744, Western Pacific, 33°38'S, 152°05'E, depth 978-10234 metres.
Author	Fishes of Australia

Capricorn Scabbardfish, Aphanopus capricornis 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.