Gonorynchus gonorynchus

Taxobox
name = "Gonorynchus gonorynchus"


image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Gonorynchiformes
familia = Gonorynchidae
genus = "Gonorynchus"
species = "G. gonorynchus"
binomial = "Gonorynchus gonorynchus"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1766)

"Gonorynchus gonorynchus" is a beaked salmon of the family Gonorynchidae, found on sandy or muddy bottoms of temperate continental shelves worldwide, to depths of 200 m. Its length is up to 60 cm.

"G. gonorynchus" is an elongate and cylindrical fish with a hard pointed snout that is used to burrow into the sand bottom. Immediately under the tip of the snout is a thin short barbel and behind this is the small underslung mouth. There are no teeth but the mouth is fringed with .

The dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins are set back towards the tail and all fins are tipped with black. Small, firmly attached scales cover the body which is sandy-green above and lighter on the belly.

Vernacular names for this fish include mousefish, ratfish, sandfish and sand eel.

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