Animal Species:Discfish, Diretmus argenteus Johnson, 1863

The Discfish is very deep-bodied and compressed. It is covered with weakly attached ctenoid scales. The species lives in tropical and temperate marine waters worldwide at depths between 300 m and 1000 m.

Alternative Name/s

Little Dory

Identification

The Discfish is very deep-bodied and compressed. It is covered with weakly attached ctenoid scales. The anus is immediately in front of the anal fin. A series of scutes run along the lower midline from the anus to below the head. The Discfish is silver with dark brown dorsal, anal and caudal fin bases.

Size range

The species grows to at least 13 cm in length.

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical and temperate marine waters worldwide. In Australia the Discfish has been trawled off the coasts of Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

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

Diretmus argenteus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Discfish specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species occurs at depths between 300 m and 1000 m.

Classification

Species:
argenteus
Genus:
Diretmus
Family:
Diretmidae
Order:
Beryciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. 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.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.

 


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Discfish, Diretmus argenteus, Diretmidae, deep-bodied, compressed, tropical water, temperate water, marine, Little Dory, 10 cm - 30 cm,