Filamentous rattail

Taxobox
name = Filamentous rattail


image_caption = Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Gadiformes
familia = Macrouridae
subfamilia = Bathygadinae
genus = "Gadomus"
species = "G. aoteanus"
binomial = "Gadomus aoteanus"
binomial_authority = McCann & McKnight, 1980

The filamentous rattail, "Gadomus aoteanus", is a rattail of the genus "Gadomus", found around New Zealand, at depths of between 1,000 and 1,250 m. Its length is between 30 to 40 cm.

The filamentous rattail has the usual greatly elongated pointed tail of the rattails, as well as greatly elongated first rays of the first dorsal, pectoral, and pelvic fins. It has a large terminal mouth with many bands of small teeth in each jaw and probably feeds on small fishes and benthic invertebrates. The head is smoothly rounded, unlike most of the other rattails which tend to have bony ridges. The chin barbel is relatively large.

Colour is brownish with black edges to the mouth and gill cavity, and the fins are black except for the tips of the elongate rays which are white.

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