| Beaked salmon Temporal range: 70–0 Ma Late Cretaceous – Recent[1] |
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|---|---|
| Gonorynchus greyi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gonorynchiformes |
| Family: | Gonorynchidae Günther, 1868 |
| Genus: | Gonorynchus Scopoli ex Gronow, 1777 |
| Species | |
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5, see text. |
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The beaked salmon (also beaked sandfish) are a type of long thin gonorynchiform ray-finned fish that live on sandy bottoms near shorelines. The approximately five known species are all in the single genus Gonorynchus (sometimes spelled Gonorhynchus) of the family Gonorynchidae (sometimes spelled Gonorhynchidae). All have a distinctive angular snout (hence the name) that the fish use to dig themselves into the sand.
The most widespread species is Gonorynchus gonorynchus, found in scattered locations worldwide. It can reach up to 60 cm (24 in) in length. It is a nocturnal fish, feeding on invertebrates at night and burrowing into sand or mud during the day.[1]
Beaked salmons are fished commercially in some areas. The flesh of Gonorynchus greyi, found around Australia and New Zealand, is reported to be "firm and of good flavour".[2]
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