General Information

COMMON NAMES: Cape Fathead GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION: NATIVE Circumglobal: Atlantic - Indian Ocean - se.Pacific COOK ISLANDS STATUS: Native; S.Group (RR); Marine, pelagic deep (Epipelagic) SIGNIFICANCE LIST: Edible (by very rare) KEY FEATURES: A stocky fish to 100cm TL. Brown to dark purple-brown. Round scaleless snout, very large eye, conspicuous lateral line and large scales. 1st Dorsal, 12 spines to 8cm, folds into groove; 2nd Dorsal and Anal low with fleshy base; Pectoral very long (to 30cm). Similar Black Fathead (Cubiceps baxteri, also circumglobal) has scales in front of eye (vs no scales) and incomplete rays on top of tail 7-10 (vs 11-12). SIMILAR SPECIES: BlackFathead (Cubiceps baxteri) has scales in front of the eye (vs scales absent), short rays on top of tail 7-10 (vs 11-12) and lateral line scales 52-66 (vs 66-67); pectoral fin pale (vs dark); and large fish are black (vs brown to dark purple).

Cook Islands Distribution

View Distribution Map

Southern Group: Present    Makatea:
RR	MG	AT	MK	MT	AK	PL	TK	MN
+

Northern Group:
TN	MH	RK	PK	NS	SW

Cubiceps capensis (Smith, 1849)
SYNONYMS: Atimostoma capensis

TAXONOMY: ANIMALIA; CHORDATA; GNATHOSTOMATA (Jawed Vertebrates); PISCES; OSTEICHTHYES; Perciformes; Stromateoidei; NOMEIDAE

SIGNIFICANCE NOTES -
POSITIVE SIGNIFICANCE: Edible (by very rare). Comments: Excellent eating

IDENTIFICATION: To 100cm TL, 25cm deep. A thick-set fish with a round blunt snouth, large eye, conspicuous lateral line (following upper body contour) and large scales. Brown to dark purple-brown with dark fins. First Dorsal folds into a groove, 12 spines, triangular, 8cm high; 2nd Dorsal and Anal have a fleshy base, low, highest anteriorly. Pectoral fins very long (30cm). Pelvic Fins short (9cm). Tail with 2 lobes.

Vouchers:
Rarotonga: fieldspecimen+photo, longline 16ml off RR, depth 100ft, 11/2001, Caught T.Yorke, ID xxxx.

References:
None recorded.

Data Update History (information):
zTX, zB02, zM02, zD02

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