Smallspine spookfish
| Smallspine spookfish | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Holocephali |
| Order: | Chimaeriformes |
| Family: | Rhinochimaeridae |
| Genus: | Harriotta |
| Species: | H. haeckeli |
| Binomial name | |
| Harriotta haeckeli | |
The smallspine spookfish (Harriotta haeckeli) is a species of fish in the family Rhinochimaeridae with a rather disjunct population. Its natural habitat is open seas.
Taxonomy
[edit]This species was first described by Christine Karrer in 1972.[3] It has been hypothesised that some records of H. raleighana might refer to H. haeckeli.[4]
This species is named in honor of both the research vessel Ernst Haeckel, from which type was collected, and to the eminent zoologist Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919) for whom the ship was named.[3][5]
Description
[edit]H. haeckeli is a small species compared to others in its genus and is coloured pale brown with darker shading on its underside.[4] The species features a broad snout with a slightly concave head profile, with a large head and a tapering body. Approximate total length size reached at maturity is 45cm for males and 60cm for females, with the maximum known length of H. haeckeli reaching 72cm in total length (not including the tail filament).[6]
Distribution
[edit]This species can be found off western Greenland, the Canary Islands, northeastern North America, Namibia, the southeastern Indian Ocean, Tasmania and southwestern New Zealand.[4] It normally lives at depths greater than 1100 m.[1] It has been found at depths between 1,114–2,603 metres (3,655–8,540 ft).[6]
Reproduction
[edit]Conservation status
[edit]This species is threatened by habitat loss.[1] However, in June 2018 the New Zealand Department of Conservation classified the smallspine spookfish as "Not Threatened" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[7] The IUCN has classified this species as of Least Concern.[1]
References
[edit]
- 1 2 3 4 Finucci, B., Ebert, D.A. & García, E. (2024). "Harriotta haeckeli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024 e.T60139A124443397. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Harriotta haeckeli". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- 1 2 Karrer, Christine (1972). "Die Gattung Harriotta Goode and Bean, 1895 (Chondrichthyes, Chimaeriformes, Rhinochimaeridae). Mit Beschreibung einer neuen Art aus dem Nordatlantik". Mitteilungen aus dem Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin. Zoologisches Museum und Institut für Spezielle Zoologie (Berlin) (in German). 48 (1): 203–221. doi:10.1002/mmnz.19720480110. ISSN 1860-0743.
- 1 2 3 Roberts, Clive; Stewart, A. L.; Struthers, Carl D.; Barker, Jeremy; Kortet, Salme; Freeborn, Michelle (2015). The fishes of New Zealand. Vol. 2. Wellington, New Zealand: Te Papa Press. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-9941041-6-8. OCLC 908128805.
- ↑ "Order CHIMAERIFORMES". 13 January 2013. Archived from the original on May 12, 2016.
- 1 2 3 Ebert, David A.; Dando, Marc (2021). Field Guide to Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras of Europe and the Mediterranean. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-691-20598-4.
- ↑ Duffy, Clinton A. J.; Francis, Malcolm; Dunn, M. R.; Finucci, Brit; Ford, Richard; Hitchmough, Rod; Rolfe, Jeremy (2018). Conservation status of New Zealand chondrichthyans (chimaeras, sharks and rays), 2016 (PDF). Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Conservation. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-988514-62-8. OCLC 1042901090.