Thorny Tinselfish, Grammicolepis brachiusculus Poey, 1873

ANIMAL SPECIES:Thorny Tinselfish, Grammicolepis brachiusculus Poey, 1873

The Thorny Tinselfish has a deep, compressed body that is covered with vertically elongated scales. It occurs in tropical and temperate marine waters

Identification

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 25 cm in length usually have horizontally flattened scutes on the sides of the body. Larger fish lack scutes.

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.

Size range

The species grows to 64cm in length.

Distribution

It is found in tropical and temperate marine waters. In Australia the Thorny Tinselfish is recorded from several localities off New South Wales.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Thorny Tinselfish specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It occurs at depths between 400 m and 800 m.

Classification

Species:: brachiusculus
Genus:: Grammicolepis
Family:: Grammicolepididae
Order:: Zeiformes
Class:: Actinopterygii
Subphylum:: Vertebrata
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

What does this mean?

References

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.
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.
Myers, G.S. 1937. The deep-sea Zeomorph Fishes of the family Grammicolepidae. Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 84 (3008): 145-156.
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).

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 11 June 2010

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