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🌊 Marine 🌡️ Deep-water

Blacktail snailfish

Careproctus melanurus Gilbert, 1892
Max Length
54 cm
Max Weight
1.7 kg
Lifespan
8 yrs
Trophic Level
3.4
Depth
50–2453 m
Climate
Deep-water
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
47.00/100
Typical Length
36 cm
Depth Zone
deep-water

📖 Overview

Found on mud bottoms . Possibly the most commonly captured liparid below 200 m; captured frequently by fishers . Known to feed on polychaete worms, small crustaceans, tiny clams and other invertebrates .

Scientific Name
Careproctus melanurus
Authority
Gilbert, 1892
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Deep-water
Body Shape
Elongated
Max Length
54 cm
Max Weight
1.7 kg
Lifespan
8 years
Depth Range
50–2453 m
Trophic Level
3.4
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
47.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 54 - 58; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 37 - 50. Dorsal fin extending about halfway along length of caudal fin; caudal narrow, slightly rounded; lower 6 rays of pectorals slightly thickened and completely exserted, the next 5 greatly to moderately exserted and longer than the rays immediately above them, no real notch in fin; pelvic fins modified to form a small adhesive disc with a thickened margin, placed far forward, below eye . Off-white to pale rose on body; ends of pectoral and edges of posterior parts of dorsal and anal, and most of the caudal, black; lining of mouth and gill cavity, and tongue black .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Blacktail snailfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Blacktail snailfish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Blacktail snailfish is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 50 - 2453 m , usually 500 - 700 m . Deep-water North Pacific: Bering Sea to off San Diego in California, USA.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🌑 Deep Water
Trophic Level
3.4±0.47
Food Items

polychaete worms, small crustaceans, tiny clams and other invertebrates (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00468 × L3.23 (TL)
Max TL
54cm
Max Weight
1,700g
Dorsal Rays
56
Anal Rays
44

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
47.00/100
Moderate-High vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.4
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Deep-water
Described By
Gilbert, 1892

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 9 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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