Family GONORYNCHIDAE

Gonorynchidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

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Introduction

The Gonorynchidae were reviewed by Grande (1999), who recognised a single genus with five species, all found in the Indo-Pacific, with one also recorded from the southern Atlantic. One species is recorded from Australia, and a second is known from New Zealand. Ferraris (1999) provided a key to four species, and Gomon (2008) provided information on both the family and species.

As adults, beaked salmon are benthic fishes in shallow estuaries and on the outer shelf. Juveniles are pelagic in the open ocean. Adults have a protruding snout with a small barbel, an inferior mouth without teeth, posterior pelvic fins under the dorsal fin, and rough ctenoid scales. Maximum size is about 60 cm.

General References

Ferraris, C.J. 1999. Family Gonorhynchidae. pp. 1825-1826 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068.

Gomon, M.F. 2008. Family Gonorynchidae: Beaked Sandfishes. pp. 195 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp. [195]

Grande, T. 1999. Revision of the genus Gonorynchus Scopoli, 1777 (Teleostei: Ostariophysi). Copeia 1999(2): 453-469

Paxton, J.R., Gates, J.E. & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Family Gonorynchidae. pp. 342-343 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp.

Common Name References

Ferraris, C.J. 1999. Family Gonorhynchidae. pp. 1825-1826 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 1397-2068. [1825] (Beaked Sandfish)

Whitley, G.P. 1948. A list of the fishes of Western Australia. Western Australia Fish Department. Fisheries Bulletin 2: 1-35 map [12] (Beaked Salmon, Ratfish)

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