- Classification
- ACTINOPTERYGII
- PERCIFORMES
- GEMPYLIDAE
- Rexea
- bengalensis
Small Gemfish, Rexea bengalensis (Alcock 1894)
A Small Gemfish, Rexea bengalensis, from the Tuticorin coast, India, November 2014, length 16 cm. Source: K. Kannan / FishBase. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial
The smallest of the gempylid species, little is known about the biology of the Small Gemfish.
Small Gemfish, Rexea bengalensis (Alcock 1894)
More Info
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Distribution |
Indo-west Pacific species. In Australian waters restricted to northwest WA and off Cape York (QLD). An oceanic species, benthopelagic, found in depths of 143-820 m. |
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Features |
D XVIII-XIX, 0, I, 14-16; A II, 11-13; P 13-15. Pelvic fins reduced to single spine. Second dorsal and anal fins followed by two finlets. Body elongate and compressed. Body depth 6-7 times into standard length. Head length 2.9-3.4 times into standard length. Lower jaw protrudes, both jaws without dermal processes. Six pairs of fang-like teeth in upper jaw. One pair of fang-like teeth in lower jaw. Palatine teeth present. Lateral line bifurcates below fifth to sixth spine of first dorsal fin, upper lateral line reaches to end of second dorsal fin, lower lateral line runs along midlateral. Scales absent. |
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Size |
To 25 cm. |
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Colour |
Body brownish. |
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Feeding |
Known to feed on squid. Little else is known. |
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Biology |
Mature at 10 cm (SL). |
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Fisheries |
Of no interest to fisheries. |
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Conservation |
None. |
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Etymology |
The specific name bengalensis refers to the type locality. |
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Species Citation |
Thyrsites bengalensis Alcock 1894, J. Proc. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 63(2): 117 [3], Pl. 6 (fig. 1), Off Madras, India, Investigator station 162, depth 145-250 fathoms. |
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Author |
Schultz, S. |
Small Gemfish, Rexea bengalensis (Alcock 1894)
References
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.
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.
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.
