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Thorny Tinselfish
Grammicolepis brachiusculus Poey, 1873

A 35cm long Thorny Tinselfish trawled in October 1999 by the FV Pacific Dynasty off the coast of southern New South Wales (AMS I.39919-001). View larger image.

Scanning electron micrograph of the scales of the Thorny Tinselfish in the top image. View larger image.

The Thorny Tinselfish has a deep, compressed body that is covered with vertically elongated scales. It has a tiny mouth, large eyes, and small spines along the bases of the dorsal and anal fins.

Fish less than 25cm in length usually have horizontally flattened scutes (glossary) on the sides of the body. Larger fish lack scutes.

This species grows to 64cm in length.

It is found worldwide at depths between 400m and 800m, in tropical and temperate marine waters.

In Australia the Thorny Tinselfish is recorded from several localities off New South Wales.

The Thorny Tinselfish is classified in the family Grammicolepididae, the Scaly Dories. This family contains two genera, each with a single species. The second species of grammicolepid is the Spotted Tinselfish Xenolepidichthys dalgleishi. This fish has less dorsal spines and rays (32-35 versus 39-41 in the Thorny Tinselfish) and lacks spiny scutes on the sides of the body.

Further reading

1. Karrer, C., 1990. Grammicolepididae. in Quero J.C., Hureau, J.C., Karrer, C., Post A. and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2. Pp. 634-635.
2. Karrer, C & P.C. Heemstra. 1986 Grammicolepididae. In Smith's Sea Fishes. (eds) Smith. M.M. & P.C. Heemstra. Johannesburg, Macmillan South Africa. Pp. 440-441.
3. Myers, G.S. 1937. The deep-sea Zeomorph Fishes of the family Grammicolepidae. Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 84 (3008): 145-156.
4. Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen & J.E. Hanley. 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol.7 Pisces Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Survey. Pp. i-xii, 1-665. (as Daramattus americanus).