Scientific Name
Careproctus melanurus

Common Name
Blacktail snailfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 54-58; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 37 - 50. Dorsal fin extending about halfway along length of caudal fin; caudal narrow, slightly rounded; lower 6 rays of pectorals slightly thickened and completely exserted, the next 5 greatly to moderately exserted and longer than the rays immediately above them, no real notch in fin; pelvic fins modified to form a small adhesive disc with a thickened margin, placed far forward, below eye (Ref. 6885). Off-white to pale rose on body; ends of pectoral and edges of posterior parts of dorsal and anal, and most of the caudal, black; lining of mouth and gill cavity, and tongue black (Ref. 6885).

Classification

Classified By

Gilbert, 1892

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Snailfishes (Liparidae)

Distribution

Region

North Pacific

Distribution

North Pacific: Bering Sea to off San Diego in California, USA.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

89 m

Depth To - meters

2286 m

Zone

bathydemersal

Environment

Marine; bathydemersal; depth range 89 - 2286 m (Ref. 50610), usually 500 - 700 m (Ref. 56456)

Trophic Level

3.36 s.e. 0.47 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

51.0 cm

Common Length

36.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: of no interest

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (31 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tmax>3)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated