Animal Species:Imperador, Beryx decadactylus Cuvier, 1829

The Imperador is a deepwater fish that inhabits temperate and tropical ocean waters nearly worldwide, with the exception of the north-eastern Pacific.

Imperador caught south-east of Sydney

Imperador caught south-east of Sydney
Carl Bento © Australian Museum

Alternative Name/s

Alfonsino, Longfinned Beryx, Red Bream

Identification

The Imperador has a deep compressed body. It has a single short-based dorsal fin. The anal fin has a much longer base and originates below the middle of the dorsal fin. The caudal fin is forked. The species has very large eyes, a large oblique mouth and small ctenoid scales. It is red to pink sometimes shading to a silvery pink below.

Size range

It grows to 60 cm in length.

Distribution

The species occurs in most temperate and tropical marine waters worldwide, with the exception of the north-eastern Pacific. In Australia it is known from off northern New South Wales to south-eastern Tasmania.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Beryx decadactylus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Imperador specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It is found in depths from 180 m to 800 m.

Classification

Species:
decadactylus
Genus:
Beryx
Family:
Berycidae
Order:
Beryciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Kuiter, R.H. 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.
  2. Paxton, J.R. Berycidae in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem. 1999. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO. Rome Pp. iii-v, 2069-2790.
  3. Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & R.D. Ward. 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook, an identification guide to domestic species. CSIRO Marine Research. Pp. 461.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Alfonsino, Beryx decadactylus, fishes, ichthyology, Berycidae, Imperador, deepsea, temperate water, tropical water, marine, Longfinned Beryx, Red Bream, deep body, compressed body, forked caudal fin, large mouth, red, pink, large eyes, 30 cm - 1 m,