Melanonus gracilis, Pelagic cod

Melanonus gracilis Günther, 1878

Pelagic cod
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Melanonus gracilis   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Melanonus gracilis
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Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Gadiformes (Cods) > Melanonidae (Melanonids)
Etymology: Melanonus: Greek, melan, -anos = black Greek, onos = hake.
More on author: Günther.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; bathypelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 150 - 3613 m (Ref. 11892), usually 600 - 1100 m (Ref. 9563). Deep-water; 50°S - 69°S

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Circumpolar in subantarctic and temperate waters, occasionally being taken in the tropics (Ref. 6525). South Atlantic south of the Subtropical Convergence. Also captured recently in Prydz Bay, Antarctica.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 18.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5209)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 67 - 72; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 52 - 54; Vertebrae: 57. Pale to dark brown in color (Ref. 6607, Ref. 5209). P 9-10, V7, A50, C32+ (Ref. 36024). P 12-14, V7 (Ref. 2942). Pectoral numbers are to be clarified.
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Oceanic species. Also mesopelagic (Ref. 7300). Has been recorded from over the continental slope in depths of 600 to 1,100 m (Ref. 9563). Biology unknown (Ref. 7130).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Chiu, T.S. and D.F. Markle, 1990. Melanonidae. p. 188-189. In O. Gon and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Fishes of the Southern Ocean. J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Grahamstown, South Africa. (Ref. 5209)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)

Not Evaluated 

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless





Human uses

Fisheries: of no interest
FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

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Internet sources

AFORO (otoliths) | Aquatic Commons | BHL | Cloffa | Websites from users | Check FishWatcher | CISTI | Catalog of Fishes: genus, species | DiscoverLife | ECOTOX | FAO - Publication: search | Faunafri | Fishipedia | Fishtrace | GloBI | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | IGFA World Record | National databases | OneZoom | Open Tree of Life | Otolith Atlas of Taiwan Fishes | PubMed | Reef Life Survey | Socotra Atlas | TreeBase | Tree of Life | Wikipedia: Go, Search |