ANIMAL SPECIES:Blue Grenadier, Macruronus novaezelandiae (Hector, 1871)
The Blue Grenadier is a benthic species in temperate marine waters of Australia and New Zealand. Juveniles are found inshore, while adults are found in continental slope waters.
Alternative Names/s
The Blue Grenadier has also been called the Blue Hake, Hoki and New Zealand Whip-tail.Identification
The Blue Grenadier is an elongate, compressed fish that tapers to a point. The second dorsal, anal and caudal fins are all joined. It has a large mouth and tiny deciduous scales.
The species is silvery with a purplish or bluish-green tinge above. The fins of live fish are dark blue.
Size range
It grows to about 1.1 m in length and a weight of about 6 kg.Distribution
The species occurs in temperate marine waters of Australia and New Zealand. In Australia it is known from off central New South Wales to south-eastern Western Australia.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Blue Grenadier specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
The Blue Grenadier is a benthic species that is found inshore as juveniles and in continental slope waters at depths from 450 m to 800 m as adults.
Living with us
Economic/social impacts
The Blue Grenadier is a commercially important species.
Classification
- Species:
- novaezelandiae
- Genus:
- Macruronus
- Family:
- Merlucciidae
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Gomon, M.F. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & R.D. Ward. 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook, an identification guide to domestic species. CSIRO Marine Research. Pp. 461.
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Blue Grenadier, Macruronus novaezelandiae View full size
Robin McPhee, NORFANZ
© Robin McPhee, NORFANZ
The head of a Blue Grenadier, Macruronus novaezelandiae View full size
Robin McPhee, NORFANZ
© Robin McPhee, NORFANZ
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