Gonorynchus gonorynchus
Gonorynchus gonorynchus | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Gonorynchiformes |
Family: | Gonorynchidae |
Genus: | Gonorynchus |
Species: | G. gonorynchus |
Binomial name | |
Gonorynchus gonorynchus (Linnaeus, 1766) | |
Synonyms | |
|
Gonorynchus gonorynchus is a species of fish in the family Gonorynchidae, found on temperate continental shelves worldwide.[1] Common names for this fish include mousefish, ratfish, sandfish, and sand eel.[2]
Location
[edit]Gonorynchus gonorynchus inhabits the coasts of the southern third of Africa stretching from Skeleton Coast to Mozambique as well as the coasts of Australia and Japan.[1] Its range also stretches into the Eastern Pacific with specimens found off the coast of Chile.[1]
Diet and habitat
[edit]Gonorynchus gonorynchus lives in and above the seabed at depths ranging from 0–200 m. It is generally nocturnal and buries itself in the seabed during daylight hours. It has a varied diet, eating zooplankton and free-swimming and buried invertebrates.[1] The young are preyed upon by seabirds. As well adults of the species are preyed upon by juvenile South African hakes.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Gonorynchus gonorynchus" in FishBase. May 2006 version.
- ^ Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8