Gonorynchus gonorynchus

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Gonorynchus gonorynchus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gonorynchiformes
Family: Gonorynchidae
Genus: Gonorynchus
Species:
G. gonorynchus
Binomial name
Gonorynchus gonorynchus
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Synonyms
  • Cyprinus gonorynchus Linnaeus, 1766
  • Cobitis gonorynchus (Linnaeus, 1766)
  • Gonorhynchus gronovii Valenciennes, 1847

Gonorynchus gonorynchus is a species of fish in the family Gonorynchidae, found on temperate continental shelves worldwide.[1] Common names for this fish include mousefish, ratfish, sandfish, and sand eel.[2]

Location[edit]

Gonorynchus gonorynchus inhabits the coasts of the southern third of Africa stretching from Skeleton Coast to Mozambique as well as the coasts of Australia and Japan.[1] Its range also stretches into the Eastern Pacific with specimens found off the coast of Chile.[1]

Diet and habitat[edit]

Gonorynchus gonorynchus lives in and above the seabed at depths ranging from 0–200 m. It is generally nocturnal and buries itself in the seabed during daylight hours. It has a varied diet, eating zooplankton and free-swimming and buried invertebrates.[1] The young are preyed upon by seabirds. As well adults of the species are preyed upon by juvenile South African hakes.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Gonorynchus gonorynchus" in FishBase. May 2006 version.
  2. ^ Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8