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Longray Spiderfish
Bathypterois longifilis Günther, 1878
A Longray Spiderfish trawled during the NORFANZ expedition at a depth between 798 m and 880 m, north of Lord Howe Island, May 2003 (CSIRO H6029-02). View larger image. Photo: R. McPhee © NORFANZ.
The Longray Spiderfish has a moderately elongate body that is covered with deciduous cycloid scales. It has an elongate lower caudal fin lobe and elongate pelvic fins. There are tiny needle-like teeth in both jaws.
It grows to 30 cm in length.
Dietary items include crustaceans and squid.
The Longray Spiderfish occurs in marine waters of Australia and New Zealand. It is a benthic species that lives in depths from 500 m to 5000 m.
In Australia it is known from off southern Queensland to off southern New South Wales.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Related links
- View the Deepsea fish list
Further reading
- Sulak, K.J. 1977. The systematics and biology of Bathypterois (Pisces, Chlorophthalmidae) with a revised classification of benthic myctophiform fishes. Galathea Report. 14: 49-108.
