Gyrinomimus grahami

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Gyrinomimus grahami
Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Osmeriformes Family: Alepocephalidae Genus: Gyrinomimus Species: G. grahami
Binomial name
Gyrinomimus grahami Richardson & Garrick, 1964

Gyrinomimus grahami is a flabby whalefish of the genus Gyrinomimus, found in all the southern oceans, at depths of at least 2,400 m. Its length is from 8 to 30 cm.

Gyrinomimus grahami is a deepwater species whose common name arose from its outline which resembles that of a whale. It has a large broad head with a large mouth and minute almost useless eyes. There are 4 rows of teeth in each jaw, the inside row having the largest teeth. The dorsal and anal fins are similarly sized and set back toward the tail, whilst the pectoral fins are small and there is no anal fin.

This fish has a well developed lateral line system on the head and body, with huge pores which aid in fish detection and navigation. It feeds by straining water for plankton, by taking water into its gaping mouth and forcing it out through its comb-like rows of teeth.

The colour is a uniform jet black with blue eyes and a pale brown mouth lining.

[edit] References

• Gyrinomimus grahami (TSN 182895). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 18 April 2006.
• "Gyrinomimus grahami". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
• 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