Albatrossia

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Giant grenadier
Giant grenadier.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gadiformes
Family: Macrouridae
Subfamily: Macrourinae
Genus: Albatrossia
Jordan & Gilbert, 1898
Species:
A. pectoralis
Binomial name
Albatrossia pectoralis
(Gilbert, 1892) [1]
Synonyms [1]
  • Macrurus pectoralisGilbert, 1892
  • Chalinura pectoralis(Gilbert, 1892)
  • Coryphaenoides pectoralis(Gilbert, 1892)
  • Dolloa pectoralis(Gilbert, 1892)
  • Nematonurus pectoralis(Gilbert, 1892)
  • Macrurus magnus Gill & Townsend, 1897

Albatrossia pectoralis, the giant grenadier or giant rattail, is a very large rattail, [1] and the only member of the genus Albatrossia. [2] It is found in the north Pacific from northern Japan to the Okhotsk and Bering Seas, east to the Gulf of Alaska, and south to northern Baja California in Mexico. It is found at depths between 140 and at least 4,250 m, [3] but typically between 700 and 1100 m. [1] The giant grenadier has the usual greatly elongated, pointed tail of the rattails.

Contents

Ecology

Giant grenadiers are among the most abundant species from 400–1,000 m in the North Pacific Ocean. [4] Giant grenadiers are apex predators on the upper continental slopes of the northern Pacific. Their main prey are Octopoteuthis deletron squid and Vampyroteuthis infernalis vampire squid. [5]

Description

It can grow to 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) total length. [2]

Otoliths

Giant grenadier have two otolith shapes that have been observed to date, and there is a third shape that seems to be a mixture of the two distinct shapes. [4]

Fishery

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Seattle

Giant grenadier are of low commercial value but are caught as by-catch. [4] Because of their great abundance, several attempts have been made to develop a fishery for giant grenadier. However, the fish is categorized as “unpalatable” because of its soft texture, high moisture content, and low protein content. [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Albatrossia pectoralis". FishBase . February 2024 version.
  2. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Albatrossia". FishBase . February 2024 version.
  3. NOAA Ocean Explorer Video
  4. 1 2 3 Rodgveller, Cara J.; Hutchinson, Charles E.; Harris, Jeremy P.; Vulstek, Scott C.; Guthrie, Charles M. (2017). "Otolith shape variability and associated body growth differences in giant grenadier, Albatrossia pectoralis". PLOS ONE. 12 (6): e0180020. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1280020R. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180020 . PMC   5489205 . PMID   28658326.
  5. Drazen, Jeffrey C; Buckley, Troy W; Hoff, Gerald R (2001). "The feeding habits of slope dwelling macrourid fishes in the eastern North Pacific". Deep-Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 48 (3): 909–935. Bibcode:2001DSRI...48..909D. doi:10.1016/S0967-0637(00)00058-3.
  6. "The Abundant—But Not So Tasty—Giant Grenadier". The Abundant—But Not So Tasty—Giant Grenadier. NOAA Fisheries. Retrieved 5 January 2017 via LegiStorm.