Macrouroides inflaticeps Smith & Radcliffe, 1912
Inflated whiptail
photo by JAMARC

Family:  Trachyrincidae (Armoured grenadiers)
Max. size:  48 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  bathypelagic; marine; depth range 747 - 4000 m
Distribution:  Western Central Pacific: Philippines. Eastern Pacific: Nazca Ridge. Atlantic Ocean: in tropical waters. Also in the Indian Ocean.
Diagnosis:  Orbit tiny, about 10% of head length, placed forward of small, inferior mouth. Chin barbel absent. First gill slit not restricted by membranous folds of skin, outer gill rakers long, slender. Branchiostegal rays 7. Anus immediately before anal fin. Tail straplike. Anal fin long, poorly developed. Pelvic fins absent. No light organ. Swimbladder regressed. (Ref 1371)
Biology:  A benthic species found on the continental slope (Ref. 75154).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 February 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.