Razorback Scabbardfish, Assurger anzac (Alexander 1917)
Razorback Scabbardfish, Assurger anzac. Source: Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO. License: CC By Attribution-NonCommercial
The Razorback Scabbardfish is rarely caught and has a patchy global distribution. This species is mainly found on seamounts.
Razorback Scabbardfish, Assurger anzac (Alexander 1917)
More Info
Depth |
150–400 m, juveniles epipelagic or mesopelagic |
Distribution |
Disjunct world-wide distribution, found on seamounts. In Australian waters, occurs off Western Australia. Benthopelgic, found at a depth of 150-400 m. |
Features |
D 0,116-123; A II,74-87; P 12. Body very elongate and extremely compressed. Body depth 25.1-28.0 times into standard length. Head length 12.1-13.5 times into standard length. Dorsal head profile straight or slightly convex, sagittal crest strongly elevated. Eye diameter 7.4-8.0 times into head length. Lower jaw slightly protruding, dermal process present on tips of both jaws. Lower jaw with 3 pairs of fangs, single pair of fangs at tip of jaw. First gill arch with spinescent gill rakers, mounted on 13-14 enlarged basal plates. Anal fin rays largely internal, only 14-17 are external. Lateral line fairly straight. |
Colour |
Preserved specimens brown. |
Feeding |
Feeds on fishes and squid. Known to feed on Engraulis spp (anchovies) in Californian waters. |
Fisheries |
Of no interest to fisheries. |
Species Citation |
Evoxymetopon anzac Alexander 1917, Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society, Western Australia 2: 104, Pl. 7, North Fremantle, Western Australia. |
Author |
Fishes of Australia |
Razorback Scabbardfish, Assurger anzac (Alexander 1917)
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.