Ventrifossa ctenomelas (Gilbert & Cramer, 1897)
Hawaiian grenadier
Ventrifossa ctenomelas
photo by FAO

Family:  Macrouridae (Grenadiers or rattails)
Max. size:  31 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 411 - 673 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Eastern Central Pacific: apparently confined to the Hawaiian Islands.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Anal spines: 0-0. Snout short, conical, with a black margin along its leading edge and supranarial ridges, but not a ling the median nasal ridge. Scales small, uniformly covered with small, fine conical spinules. First dorsal fin with a large black blotch on its distal portion.
Biology:  Not normally taken by commercial fishers because of the absence of a deep-water trawl fishery where it occurs (Ref. 1371).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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