Darwin's slimehead
📖 Overview
Lives close to or on the bottom of the upper continental slope. Prefers hard substrates. Young specimens feed on small shrimps and fish . A deep sea species, nonetheless, the young are often found near the coast . Utilized as fishmeal and source of oil in eastern central Atlantic .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 7 - 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12. Head with a concave forehead profile and with large mucous cavities covered by tough skin; mouth large and oblique; opercle and preopercle each with a large strong spine; body deep, about 2.1 times in SL; ventral keel with 10 - 14 very robust scutes; caudal fin forked but rounded. Color of head and body is dusky pink, sides with silvery tinge, fins red; tongue and gill cavity blackish; palate white to red . Pale beet red to light rosy. Back light red to brownish red, lower sides light silvery gray .: short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Darwin's slimehead is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; benthopelagic; depth range 9 - 1210 m , usually 200 - 500 m . Subtropical; 43°N - 35°S South Africa.
🌿 Ecology
small shrimps and fish (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Darwin's slimehead is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 16.9 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 319 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Darwin's slimehead has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Big Roughie · Darwin's red-fish · Darwin's redfish · Darwin's roughy · Darwin's slimehead · Finescale roughy · big roughy |
| 🇫🇷French | Hoplostète de Darwin |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | ハシキンメ |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Imperatriz · Olho-de-vidro-imperatriz |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Carajuelo del fondo · Reloj de Darwin · carajuelo de fondo |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gephyroberys darwinii | Johnson | 1866 | Synonym |
| Gephyroberyx darwini woodsi | Quéro | 1979 | Synonym |
| Gephyroberyx orbicularis | Smith | 1947 | Synonym |
| Gephyroberyx philippinus | Fowler | 1938 | Synonym |
| Gephyroberyx robustus | Danil'chenko | 1960 | Synonym |
| Priacanthus robustus | Bogatsov | 1933 | Synonym |
| Trachichthys darwinii | Johnson | 1866 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 707 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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