Blackspotted grenadier

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Blackspotted grenadier
Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gadiformes
Family: Macrouridae
Genus: Lucigadus
Species: L. nigromaculatus
Binomial name
Lucigadus nigromaculatus
(McCulloch, 1907)

The blackspotted grenadier or blackspot rattail, Lucigadus nigromaculatus, is a rattail of the genus Lucigadus, found around southern Australia, New Zealand, and Chile, at depths of between 400 and 1,400 m. Its length is between 15 to 30 cm.

The blackspotted grenadier has the usual greatly elongated pointed tail of the rattails, as well as large eyes and a hump under the first dorsal fin. The broad rounded snout overhangs a small mouth and there are no obvious bony ridges or spiny scales on the head. Each body scale is covered in rows of long spines and the first pelvic fin ray is elongated.

The colour is dark brown with a blue-black abdomen, black margins to the mouth and gill openings, and a distinct black spot on the first dorsal fin.

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