New Zealand flathead
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| Bembrops morelandi Nelson, 1978 |
The New Zealand flathead, Bembrops morelandi, is a duckbill of the family Percophidae, subfamily Bembropinae, found only around New Zealand, at depths of between 365 and 395 m. Their length is up to 20 cm.
The New Zealand flathead is a long slender fish of round cross-section, with a flattened snout giving rise to the family name of duckbill. Its colour (in alcohol) is yellowish gray dorsally, slightly lighter ventrally. Scales present on lateral and dorsal sides of snout. Upper jaw extending behind anterior margin of eye, almost to the mid-line. Maxillary tentacle long. Lateral line rising sharply above pectoral fin at base for 2 - 2.5 scale rows and then descending gradually along length of the pectoral fin, separated from origin of first dorsal fin by 2 rows of scales, from origin of anal fin by 5, and from insertion of anal fin by 3. The first spine of the first dorsal fin is prolonged, even in a relatively small specimen. The pectoral fin is rounded.
[edit] References
- "Bembrops morelandi". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 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
