Feeler fish

Taxobox
name = Feeler fish


image_caption = Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Aulopiformes
familia = Ipnopidae
genus = "Bathypterois"
species = "B. longifilis"
binomial = "Bathypterois longifilis"
binomial_authority = Günther, 1878

The feeler fish, "Bathypterois longifilis", a grinner of the family Ipnopidae, is found around Australia and New Zealand, on slopes of the continental shelf at depths of between 500 and 5,000 m. Its length is about 30 cm.

The feeler fish is a moderately elongate fish of almost round cross-section with a flattened head that bears a pair of minute eyes. The upper rays of the pectoral fins are free and very long, reaching back past the tip of the tail. These rays serve a sensory purpose, detecting physical features and prey in front of the fish as it moves along the bottom. The fish 'walks' along the bottom on its pelvic fins and lower caudal fin lobe.

Feeler fish are dark in colour with pale fin rays. On some of the fins, these are joined by black fin membranes.

References

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* 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