Slender unicorn rattail

Taxobox
name = Slender unicorn rattail


image_caption = Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Gadiformes
familia = Macrouridae
genus = "Trachyrincus"
species = "T. longirostris"
binomial = "Trachyrincus longirostris"
binomial_authority = (Günther, 1878)The slender unicorn rattail, "Trachyrincus longirostris", is a rattail of the genus "Trachyrincus", found around southeast Australia and New Zealand, at depths of between 850 and 1,300 m. Its length is between 30 to 60 cm.

The slender unicorn rattail has the usual greatly elongated pointed tail of the rattails, as well as large eyes and a flat shield-like snout that extends forward to a point well in front of the mouth. There are prominent bony ridges above and below the eyes, and a distinctive enlarged row of pointed scales running along each side of the bases of the dorsal and anal fins. The mouth is filled with bands of small teeth and there is a small chin barbel. The first pelvic fin ray is elongated.

This fish probably uses its long hard snout as a shovel to dig in the soft bottom sediment in search of the small crustaceans and other invertebrates on which it feeds.

The colour is grey with black fins and black margins around the operculum, eyes, and mouth.

References

*
* 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