Smalleye squaretail

Taxobox
name = Smalleye squaretail


image_caption = Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Perciformes
familia = Tetragonuridae
genus = "Tetragonurus"
species = "T. cuvieri"
binomial = "Tetragonurus cuvieri"
binomial_authority = Risso, 1810

The smalleye squaretail, "Tetragonurus cuvieri", is a squaretail of the genus Tetragonurus found in all tropical and temperate oceans of the world, at depths up to 800 m. Its length is 20 to 70 cm.

The smalleye squaretail is a rare elongate blunt-headed fish with small fins, and spined sculptured scales. There are a pair of lateral keels on each side of the caudal peduncle, giving it a square cross-section, and no doubt being the origin of its common name.

Its colour is a uniform black-brown, often with blue or violet tints, and each iris is circled by green and gold bands. The jaws in the trapdoor-like mouth contain small close-set teeth which increase in number as the fish increases in size.

Smalleye squaretail live amongst jellyfishes or inside salps near the surface when young, and move into deeper water as adults. The flesh of this fish may be poisonous, possibly caused by ciguatera.

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