Discfish, Diretmus argenteus Johnson, 1863

Scientific name: Diretmus argenteus
Alternative name/s:
Little Dory
Discfish, Diretmus argenteus Click to enlarge image
A Discfish trawled at a depth of 470m, off Wollongong, New South Wales, 24 May 1978. The fish is registered in the Australian Museum Ichthyology Collection (AMS I.20410-011). Image: Ken Graham
© Ken Graham/DPI Fisheries

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Diretmus
    Species
    argenteus
    Family
    Diretmidae
    Order
    Beryciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to at least 13 cm in length.

Introduction

The Discfish is very deep-bodied and compressed. It is covered with weakly attached ctenoid scales. The species lives in tropical and temperate marine waters worldwide at depths between 300 m and 1000 m.

Identification

The Discfish is very deep-bodied and compressed. It is covered with weakly attached ctenoid scales. The anus is immediately in front of the anal fin. A series of scutes run along the lower midline from the anus to below the head. The Discfish is silver with dark brown dorsal, anal and caudal fin bases.

Habitat

The species occurs at depths between 300 m and 1000 m.

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical and temperate marine waters worldwide. In Australia the Discfish has been trawled off the coasts of Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Gomon, M.F. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.