Grenadier cod
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 Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
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| Tripterophycis gilchristi Boulenger, 1902 |
The grenadier cod, Tripterophycis gilchristi, is a morid cod of the genus Tripterophycis, found in the mid-south Atlantic Ocean, and around southern Australia, South Africa, Sumatra, and New Zealand, at depths of between 100 and 1,000 metres. Its length is between 15 and 35 centimetres.
The grenadier cod is similar in appearance to the rattails, with large eyes and a very elongate tapering body. However, the grenadier cod has a separate caudal fin, the third dorsal fin starts at about two thirds of the body length, and the long anal fin starts below the pectoral fin and ends just before the tail. The second dorsal fin is high and rounded and the first is small and triangular. There is a tiny chin barbel, and the pelvic fins consist only of a few long rays.
Body colour is brown-pink with blackish markings on the dorsal fin, caudal fin, and belly, and a prominent blue eye.
[edit] References
- "Tripterophycis gilchristi". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. April 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- 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
