Nezumia aequalis (Günther, 1878)
Common Atlantic grenadier
Nezumia aequalis
photo by JAMARC

Family:  Macrouridae (Grenadiers or rattails)
Max. size:  36 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 9 years
Environment:  benthopelagic; marine; depth range 200 - 2320 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Atlantic Ocean: Eastern Atlantic: Faroe Bank to northern Angola and the Mediterranean Sea. Western Atlantic: Davis Straits to northern Brazil.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Anal spines: 0-0. Head short, completely scaled except for naked strip on the ventral surface of the snout; Eyes relatively large, 29 to 42% of head length; snout short, pointed; chin barbel very short. Body scales with lanceolate to shield-shaped spinules. Overall color is bluish to violet, head somewhat tawny to swarthy; ventral portions silvery when fresh; pelvic fins black except outermost ray which is pale to white; oral cavity grayish; branchial cavity mostly black.
Biology:  Feeds on benthic as well as pelagic animals like mysids, amphipods, small shrimps, copepods, isopods, ostracods and polychaete worms (Ref. 6187).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 May 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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