Opalfish

Species of fish

Opalfish
An opalfish observed in the Wellington Harbour
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Trachiniformes
Family: Percophidae
Genus: Hemerocoetes
Species:
H. monopterygius
Binomial name
Hemerocoetes monopterygius
Schneider, 1801

The opalfish, Hemerocoetes monopterygius, is a duckbill of the genus Hemerocoetes, found only around New Zealand, at depths of between 5 and 200 metres (16 and 656 ft). Their length is between 10 and 25 centimetres (3.9 and 9.8 in).

Gallery

  • Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
    Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
  • An opalfish surrounded by shells
    An opalfish surrounded by shells

References

  1. ^ Nelson, J.; Matsuura, K.; Collette, B.; et al. (2017) [errata version of 2010 assessment]. "Hemerocoetes monopterygius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T154636A115215793. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T154636A4594312.en.
  • "Hemerocoetes monopterygius". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 18 April 2006.
  • Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Hemerocoetes monopterygius" in FishBase. January 2006 version.
  • 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
  • Wade Doak, A Photographic Guide to Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 2003) ISBN 1-877246-95-6
Taxon identifiers
Hemerocoetes monopterygius