Scientific Name
Centrolophus niger

Common Name
Rudderfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 37-41; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 20 - 24. Dark brown to black, occasionally almost bluish; median and pelvic fins darker than body; young with 2-4 vertical bars (Ref. 4410). Snout is slightly longer than the eye diameter (Ref. 35388).

Classification

Classified By

Gmelin, 1789

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Medusafishes (Centrolophidae)

Distribution

Region

North Atlantic

Distribution

North Atlantic: Nova Scotia and Grand Banks (Canada) to Massachusetts, USA (Ref. 7251). Also known from the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. Southeast Atlantic and Indian Ocean: South Africa and Australia (including New South Wales). Southwest Pacific: New Zealand. Southern Ocean. Antitropical.

Range

68°N - 55°S, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Deep-water

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

40 m

Depth To - meters

1050 m

Zone

bathyalpelagic

Environment

Marine; bathypelagic; depth range 40 - 1050 m (Ref. 52180), usually 300 - 700 m (Ref. 52180)

Trophic Level

3.92 s.e. 0.38 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

150 cm

Common Length

60.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: of potential interest; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (85 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated