THE FINS UNITED INITIATIVE
  • About TFUI
    • TFUI Origins >
      • About TFUI Founder Melissa
      • TFUI Officers
    • Take a Bite
    • Get Involved
    • FAQ
  • Bite Blog
  • Education
    • The Sharks >
      • Shark Anatomy
    • The Skates & Rays
    • The Chimaeras
    • Why Environments Matter
    • The Threats
    • Open Access >
      • Behind the Fins: Interview series
      • Bite into Research
      • Shark Bites: Book Recommendations
      • Sustainable Seafood Apps
  • Fins United
    • Shark Party Ideas
    • Little Fins Nursery
    • Big Fins Reef
  • Contact

Portuguese rabbitfish

7/28/2019

 
Picture
Photo: www.inaturalist.org
​The Portuguese rabbitfish, Hydrolagus lusitanicus, is also known as the Coelho. Described in 2009 from the continental slope of Portugal, this species is infrequent bycatch of the Portuguese longline fishery for Black Scabbard Fish (Aphanopus carbo). Yes, many fisheries get large quantities of bycatch of deepwater sharks! 
Only known from 22 specimens, the females collected ranged from 98.6 to 117.7 cm pre-supra caudal fin length (PSCFL) and males ranged from 81.5 to 95.4 cm PSCFL. They are an egg-laying species like other chimaeras. 

Their range seems to be 1,600 metres to 2,410 metres deep (another one of those chill-loving chimaeras) and that Black Scabbard fishery generally operates at depths of 800-1,200 m and is thought to only sometimes be within this species’ range. From what we know, it seems the population may be severely fragmented although it is already tough to study the deep sea so we don’t know for sure.

The Portuguese rabbitfish, Hydrolagus lusitanicus, is also known as the Coelho. Described in 2009 from the continental slope of Portugal, this species is infrequent bycatch of the Portuguese longline fishery for Black Scabbard Fish (Aphanopus carbo). Yes, many fisheries get large quantities of bycatch of deepwater sharks! Their range seems to be 1,600 metres to 2,410 metres deep (another one of those chill-loving chimaeras) and that Black Scabbard fishery generally operates at depths of 800-1,200 m and is thought to only sometimes be within this species’ range. From what we know, it seems the population may be severely fragmented although it is already tough to study the deep sea so we don’t know for sure. Due to knowing what little we do know about their range/habitat, it can be assumed that these fisheries as they currently operate do not pose a significant threat to this species, so it is assessed to be Least Concern (LC) in the European region by the IUCN. 

WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT THIS ANIMAL?

GLOSSARY

  • Artisanal fishery: There is, as yet, no universally-accepted definition; the term is used interchangeably with ‘small scale fishery.’ In general, artisanal fishing will be family-based, employing small or no boats and simple and/or traditional methods.
  • Bycatch: The part of a fishery’s catch that is made up of non-target species.  
  • Commercial fishery: The activity of catching fish and other seafood for profit.​
  • IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature.​​

SAY HELLO!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Picture
NINESPOT CHIMAERA
Picture
EDMUND’S SPURDOG
Picture
WHITE-BLOTCHED RIVER STINGRAY

Comments are closed.

    Author

    TFUI Founder Melissa C. Marquez is author of all animal bios and "Behind the Fins" segments.
    ​
    A proud #LatinainSTEM, Marquez is a marine biologist who focuses on shark habitat use and movements; she is also a science communicator (follow her on Twitter) who focuses on diverse Chondrichthyan education and who focuses on the media coverage of sharks.
    You can learn more about her on her website.

    SEE MELISSA'S TEDx TALK HERE:

    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016

    Subscribe to The Fins United Initiative's monthly newsletter.

    SEARCH BY CATEGORIES

    Picture
    SHARKS
    Picture
    SKATES &
    ​RAYS
    Picture
    CHIMAERA

    READER FAVORITES

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM

    @finsunitedinitiative
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • About TFUI
    • TFUI Origins >
      • About TFUI Founder Melissa
      • TFUI Officers
    • Take a Bite
    • Get Involved
    • FAQ
  • Bite Blog
  • Education
    • The Sharks >
      • Shark Anatomy
    • The Skates & Rays
    • The Chimaeras
    • Why Environments Matter
    • The Threats
    • Open Access >
      • Behind the Fins: Interview series
      • Bite into Research
      • Shark Bites: Book Recommendations
      • Sustainable Seafood Apps
  • Fins United
    • Shark Party Ideas
    • Little Fins Nursery
    • Big Fins Reef
  • Contact