Bean's Bigscale, Scopelogadus beanii (Günther, 1887)

ANIMAL SPECIES:Bean's Bigscale, Scopelogadus beanii (Günther, 1887)

Bean's Bigscale is a deepsea pelagic fish that has deep pits on its head. Its scales are easily removed so specimens that are caught in trawl nets are often badly damaged.

Identification

Bean's Bigscale is a moderately elongated fish with a large head that has deep mucous cavities and ridges of thin bones. It has a relatively long caudal peduncle and weakly attached cycloid scales. The scales are usually missing from fish that are caught in trawls. This leaves obvious scale pockets on the sides of the body.

Size range

The species grows to at least 12 cm in length.

Distribution

Bean's Bigscale occurs in bathypelagic waters at depths from 800 m to 4000 m. It is known from the Indo-West Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

In Australia it has been caught from off central to southern New South Wales.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Bean's Bigscale specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:: beanii
Genus:: Scopelogadus
Family:: Melamphaidae
Order:: Stephanoberyciformes
Class:: Actinopterygii
Subphylum:: Vertebrata
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

What does this mean?

References

Glover, C.J.M. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
Paulin, C., Stewart, A., Roberts, C. & P. McMillan. 1989. New Zealand Fishes. A Complete Guide. National Museum of New Zealand. Pp. 279.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 3 March 2011

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