ANIMAL SPECIES:Smooth Goosefish, Lophiodes mutilus (Alcock, 1893)
The Smooth Goosefish has a huge depressed head and a jaws lined with long, pointed, depressable teeth. It lives at depths between 200 m and 800 m.
Identification
The Smooth Goosefish has a huge depressed head and a jaws lined with long, pointed, depressable teeth. There are numerous sharp spines on the head and fleshy tendrils on the lower jaw. The dorsal fin is made up of three isolated spines on the head and one or two short spines behind the head, which may be embedded beneath the skin. The first dorsal spine may be modified as a lure, with a simple esca distally.
The species is light to dark brown above and lighter brown below. The tendrils on the head are darker brown to black. The peritoneum is black.
Size range
It grows to about 40 cm in length.Distribution
The Smooth Goosefish occurs in tropical and temperate waters of the Indo-west Pacific.
In Australia it is known from off the Northwest Shelf of Western Australia, northern Queensland to southern New South Wales and off north-eastern Tasmania.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Smooth Goosefish specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
The Smooth Goosefish is a benthic species that lives in continental shelf and slope waters (200 m to 800 m).
Classification
- Species:
- mutilus
- Genus:
- Lophiodes
- Family:
- Lophiidae
- Order:
- Lophiiformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Caruso, J.H. 1981. The systematics and distribution of the lophiid anglerfishes: 1. A revision of the genus Lophiodes with the description of two new species. Copeia. 3: 522-549.
- Caruso, J.H. 1999. Family Lophiidae . 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 3. Batoid fishes, chimaeras and bony fishes part 1 (Elopidae to Linophrynidae). FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-vi, 1398-2068.
Would you like to add a comment?
Sign up to add comments and find out more about the other benefits you can enjoy.
Would you like to add a tag?
Sign up to add tags and find out more about the other benefits you can enjoy.
Smooth Goosefish, Lophiodes mutilus View full size
Sally Reader
© Sally Reader
Dorsal view of a Smooth Goosefish View full size
Sally Reader
© Sally Reader
Head of a Smooth Goosefish. View full size
Sally Reader
© Sally Reader
The mouth of a Smooth Goosefish View full size
Sally Reader
© Sally Reader
Support us
Help us continue to provide quality research, education, community programs and exhibitions.
Online Shop
Featuring a selection of products relating to the collections.
Australian Museum Members
Join today to come to the Museum for free and enjoy many other benefits.
AMBS
Australian Museum Business Services - Ecological, archaeological and heritage consulting.
Museum as a Venue
We have many unique venues ideal for dinner, cocktails, weddings and conferences.