| Family: |
Polyprionidae (Wreckfishes) |
| Max. size: |
160 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 100 kg; max. reported age: 60 years |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 50 - 854 m |
| Distribution: |
Circumglobal in southern waters: (Ref. 7300): South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Kermadec I., Desventuradas Is., Juan Fernandez Is., Chile, north to southern Brazil, Tristan da Cunha. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 7-9 |
| Biology: |
A deepwater species, occurs in seamounts (Ref. 89357). Adults occur generally over rough ground from the central shelf (about 100 m) to the shelf edge and down to the upper slope. Juveniles are found in surface waters, perhaps school in association with drifting weed. Feed on barracouta and pilchards, in addition to various bottom-dwelling fish. Are primary gonochorists (Ref. 58421). Preyed upon by sperm whales (Ref. 9072). It is taken by droplining down to 400 m, and is sometimes seen in the trawled catch. Utilized fresh and frozen; can be steamed, fried, broiled, boiled, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988). Severely overfished (Ref. 89357). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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