Manefish, Caristius sp

Scientific name: Caristius sp
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    15/07/19
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Manefish, <i>Caristius sp</i> Click to enlarge image
A manefish from the Australian Museum Fish Collection. Image: G. Millen
© G. Millen

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Caristius
    Species
    sp
    Family
    Caristiidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    Manefishes grow to about 60 cm in length.

Introduction

Manefishes typically have a flabby compressed body. They live in temperate marine waters of all oceans except the north-eastern Pacific.

Identification

Manefishes typically have a flabby compressed body and a high dorsal fin. They have short steep snouts and large eyes. The long pelvic fins fold down into a shallow groove. These fishes are pinkish brown to black with black fins.

The manefishes (family Caristiidae) are in need of taxonomic revision. The family is currently believed to contain two genera and at least four species. C. groenlandicus and C. macropusprobably occur in Australian waters, along with one potentially undescribed species.

Habitat

Juveniles are found in epipelagic and mesopelagic depths. Adults occur in mesopelagic and bathypelagic depths.

Distribution

Manefishes occur in temperate marine waters of all oceans except the north-eastern Pacific.

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

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. 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.
  2. Paxton, J.R. 2001. Caristiidae. in Carpenter, K.E. & V.H. Niem (Eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 5. Bony fishes part 3 (Menidae to Pomacentridae). FAO, Rome. Pp. iii-iv, 2791-3379.