Animal Species:Allied Halosaur, Aldrovandia affinis (Günther, 1877)

The Allied Halosaur is an elongate fish with an overhanging, pointed snout. It is found worldwide in continental slope depths.

Allied Halosaur, Aldrovandia affinis

Allied Halosaur, Aldrovandia affinis
Kerryn Parkinson © NORFANZ Founding Parties

Alternative Name/s

Gilbert's Halosaur

Identification

The Allied Halosaur has an elongate body and an attenuate tail. It has a pointed snout that extends well in front of the mouth. There is a single short based dorsal fin and a long based anal fin that extends to the end of the tail. The body is scaled, with enlarged scales along the lateral line. The top of the head has no scales.

Size range

55 cm

Distribution

It occurs worldwide.  In Australia it is known from off north-western Western Australia and New South Wales.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Allied Halosaur specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species occurs in tropical marine waters at continental slope depths.

Feeding and Diet

Allied Halosaurs feed on polychaetes, amphipods and other small benthic invertebrates.

Classification

Species:
affinis
Genus:
Aldrovandia
Family:
Halosauridae
Order:
Notacanthiformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Smith, D. G. 1999. Halosauridae. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (Eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 3. Batoid fishes, chimaeras and bony fishes part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae). FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-vi, 1398-2068.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Allied Halosaur, Aldrovandia affinis, Halosauridae,