Animal Species:Manefish, Caristius sp

Manefishes typically have a flabby compressed body.  They live in temperate marine waters of all oceans except the north-eastern Pacific.

Manefish

Manefish
G. Millen © G. Millen

Identification

Manefishes typically have a flabby compressed body and a high dorsal fin. They have short steep snouts and large eyes. The long pelvic fins fold down into a shallow groove. These fishes are pinkish brown to black with black fins.

The manefishes (family Caristiidae) are in need of taxonomic revision. The family is currently believed to contain two genera and at least four species. C. groenlandicus and C. macropus probably occur in Australian waters, along with one potentially undescribed species.

Size range

Manefishes grow to about 60 cm in length.

Distribution

Manefishes occur in temperate marine waters of all oceans except the north-eastern Pacific.

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

Caristius sp

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Manefish specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

Juveniles are found in epipelagic and mesopelagic depths. Adults occur in mesopelagic and bathypelagic depths.

Classification

Species:
sp
Genus:
Caristius
Family:
Caristiidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. 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.
  2. Paxton, J.R. 2001. Caristiidae. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (Eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 5. Bony fishes part 3 (Menidae to Pomacentridae). FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-iv, 2791-3379.

 


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Manefish, Caristius, Caristiidae, fishes, ichthyology, flabby body, compressed body, temperate water, marine, steep snout, large eyes, pinkish brown, black fins, 30 cm - 1 m, epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic,