Animal Species:Cohen's Whiptail, Nezumia coheni Iwamoto & Merrett, 1997

Alternative Name/s

Cohen's Rattail

Identification

Cohen's Whiptail has a tall, short-based dorsal fin, a long, low anal fin and a long tapering tail that lacks a caudal fin. It has a pointed snout, a small barbel on the tip of the lower jaw, and scales that are covered with rows of small spines.

There is a light-producing organ in the body wall that is visible externally as a black, scaleless area (a dermal window) between the bases of the pelvic fins.

Size range

The species grows to at least 40 cm in length.

Distribution

Cohen's Whiptail is recorded from Australia, New Caledonia and the Kermadec Islands. In Australia it is known from marine waters of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Cohen's Whiptail specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It has been caught in trawls at depths between 170 m and 1032 m.

Classification

Species:

cohen

Genus:

Nezumia

Family:

Macrouridae

Order:

Gadiformes

Class:

Actinopterygii

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

References

1. Iwamoto, T. & K.J. Graham. 2001. Grenadiers (Families Bathygadidae and Macrouridae, Gadiformes, Pisces) of New South Wales, Australia. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 52 (21): 407-509.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 4 August 2012

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Cohen's Whiptail, Nezumia coheni, Macrouridae, light-producing organ, Cohen's Rattail, tapers, pointed snout, barbel, 30 cm - 1 m, marine,