Description: A medium-sized slimehead, or roughy. Oval body, laterally compressed. Head large, with extensive mucous cavities, which constitute sensory canals, separated by spinous ridges and covered with membranous skin. Has a flat, triangular spine on the preopercle. One dorsal fin with spines followed by soft rays. Large keeled scales along the belly between the pelvic and anal fins form a row of well-developed scutes. Body pinkish, silvery on the sides, and red fins.
Global Distribution: Atlantic Ocean and Indo-West Pacific. View Map
BIOLOGICAL FEATURES
Size: Maximum length 60.0 cm; common length 45.0 cm.
Depth range: FishBase: 9 - 1210 m, usually 200 - 500 m.
Habitat: Benthopelagic, lives close to or on the bottom of the upper continental or insular slope. Prefers hard substrates and is sometimes associated with deep coral reefs.
Feeding habits: Feeds on fish and shrimp.
Trophic level:
FISHERIES
Commercial interest: Minor commercial species, mostly used to produce fishmeal and fish oil. Occasional catches in Madeira.
Conservation status: Not evaluated.
Nutritional information & food safety:
REFERENCES
Andrade A.B., Soares G.S.S., Barreiros J.P., Gasparini J.L., Hostim-Silva M. (2004). First record of Darwin’s slimehead, Gephyroberyx darwinii (Johnson, 1866) (Beryciformes: Trachichthyidae), in association with Brazilian deep reefs. Aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology, 9(2): 65-68.
Carpenter K.E., ed. (2002). The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic. Volume 2: Bony fishes part 1 (Acipenseridae to Grammatidae). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes and American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Special Publication No. 5. FAO, Rome, pp. 601-1374.
Fischer W., Bianchi G., Scott W.B., eds. (1981). FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Eastern Central Atlantic; fishing areas 34, 47 (in part). Canada Funds-in-Trust. Ottawa, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, by arrangement with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, vol. 4, 316 pp.
IUCN (2014). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.1. www.iucnredlist.org
Pereira J.N., Simas A., Rosa A., Aranha A., Lino S., Constantino E., Monteiro V., Tariche O., Menezes G. (2012). Weight–length relationships for 27 demersal fish species caught off the Cape Verde archipelago (eastern North Atlantic). Journal of Applied Ichthyology, 28(1): 156-159.
