Hairlip brotula
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hairlip brotula | ||||||||||||||||
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Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
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Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||
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Binomial name | ||||||||||||||||
Cataetyx messieri Günther, 1878 |
The hairlip brotula, Cataetyx messieri, is a brotula of the genus Cataetyx, found around South America from Argentina to Chile at depths of between 200 and 1,500 m. Their length is between 60 and 70 cm.
The hairlip brotula is a codlike fish, very similar to the pink cusk-eel, but with an even more pointed tail consisting of the fused dorsal and anal fins. The pelvic fin consists of one ray only, and the pectoral fin is fairly large. The skin is covered in small scales.
The colour is a uniform dull brown with the underside a little lighter.
The hairlip brotula has a viviparous method of reproduction, giving birth to only a few fully formed young.
[edit] References
- Cataetyx messieri (TSN 164904). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 18 April 2006.
- "Cataetyx messieri". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8