Ridge scaled rattail

Taxobox
name = Ridge scaled rattail


image_caption = Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Gadiformes
familia = Macrouridae
genus = "Macrourus"
species = "M. carinatus"
binomial = "Macrourus carinatus"
binomial_authority = (Günther, 1878)The ridge scaled rattail, "Macrourus carinatus", is a rattail of the genus "Macrourus", found circumpolar in the Great Southern Ocean at depths of between 200 and 1,200 m. Its length is between 30 to 65 cm, although Fishbase records lengths up to 1 m.

The ridge scaled rattail has the usual greatly elongated pointed tail of the rattails, as well as very large eyes, pointed snout, and pointed first dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins. The first ray of the first dorsal fin is long and serrated, there is a small chin barbel, but there is no photophore. The first pelvic fin ray is elongated.

Each scale has a conspicuous serrated median ridge, with rows of smaller spines on each side.

The colour is brownish with black fins.

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